Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.
Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.
| Year | Historical missions | Forecast launches |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2026 | 8 | 22 |
| 2027 | 0 | 23 |
| 2028 | 0 | 26 |
| 2029 | 0 | 29 |
| 2030 | 0 | 30 |
| 2031 | 0 | 30 |
| 2032 | 0 | 30 |
| 2033 | 0 | 30 |
| 2034 | 0 | 30 |
| 2035 | 0 | 30 |
Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.
| Variant | Orbit | Capacity | Altitude | Inclination | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electron | LEO | 300 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Rocket Lab Electron vehicle page |
Electron | SSO | 200 kg | 500 km | Unknown | Rocket Lab Electron Payload User's Guide |
Latest launched missions using variants in this family.
| Mission | Variant | Launch |
|---|---|---|
| VICTUS HAZE Puma Mission | Electron | Jun 19, 2026 |
| Viva La StriX | Electron | May 22, 2026 |
| Kakushin Rising | Electron | Apr 23, 2026 |
| Daughter of the Stars |
Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.
| Variant | Stages | Missions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Electron | Not stated | 81 | Active |
| 2036 | 0 | 30 |
| 2037 | 0 | 30 |
| 2038 | 0 | 30 |
| 2039 | 0 | 30 |
| 2040 | 0 | 30 |
| 2041 | 0 | 30 |
3 launch locations represented.
| Year | Location | Launches | Confidence | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 10 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2026 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 2 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2026 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 10 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2027 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 10 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2027 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 10 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2027 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 3 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2028 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 11 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2028 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 11 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2028 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 4 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2029 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2029 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2029 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 5 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2030 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2030 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2030 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 6 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2031 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2031 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2031 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 6 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2032 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2032 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2032 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 6 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
| 2033 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opport... |
| 2033 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula) | 12 | 75% | LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count. |
| 2033 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 2 | 6 | 65% | NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030. |
LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count.
NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030.
LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opportunities.
LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opportunities.
Electron |
| Mar 28, 2026 |
| Eight Days A Week | Electron | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Insight At Speed Is A... | Electron | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Bridging the Swarm | Electron | Jan 30, 2026 |
| Cosmos Will See You Now | Electron | Jan 22, 2026 |
Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.
| Mission | Variant | Announced |
|---|---|---|
No forecasted missionsNo upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family. | ||
LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count.
NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030.
LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opportunities.
LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count.
NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030.
LC-1A is modeled as half of Rocket Lab's practical Mahia cadence. Base is anchored by Rocket Lab's 21-launch 2025 record, not the theoretical 120 launch opportunities.
LC-1B doubles scheduling flexibility; modeled equal to LC-1A after mature operations. Base remains demand-constrained and far below published opportunity count.
NASA says LC-2 can support up to 12 launches/year, but U.S. Electron demand and range/customer processing likely keep practical base around 6/year by 2030.
The 2021-11-17 mission was Rocket Lab’s third Electron mission to test the ability to recover and reuse the rocket’s first stage.
The Electron’s kick stage deployed two BlackSky Gen-2 satellites into orbits at an altitude of 430 km nearly an hour after liftoff.
The 2021-11-17 mission was Rocket Lab’s first Electron launch since 2021-07-29.
Electron delivered two BlackSky Gen-2 Earth-imaging satellites to a circular 430 km orbit.
Two additional BlackSky satellites are scheduled to launch on Rocket Lab’s next Electron mission named 'A Data With Destiny' during a 14-day launch window that opens in December.
Rocket Lab was affected in 2021 by an Electron launch failure and by pandemic lockdowns in New Zealand that postponed launches.
The first of Rocket Lab’s two contracted fourth-quarter Electron launches for BlackSky is scheduled for 2021-11-17 after delays caused by a sensor problem and poor weather.
The Astroscale mission to inspect an upper stage for JAXA will be launched on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket in 2023.
At approximately seven and a half minutes into the mission, Electron's drogue parachute will be deployed at around 43,0 m (13 km) altitude.
Less than a minute after the drogue parachute deployment, Electron's large main parachute will be deployed at an altitude of about 19,0 m (5.7 km) to further slow the stage and enable a controlled splashdown.
COSI is designed to detect soft gamma rays with energies between 0.2 and 5 million electron volts (MeV).
On 2021-10-11, Rocket Lab prepared for back-to-back Electron launches of BlackSky satellites, with one scheduled between 2021-11-11 and 24 and the second no earlier than 2021-11-27.
Rocket Lab last performed an Electron launch on 2021-07-29 flying a mission for the U.S. Space Force.
A two-week launch window for Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron mission opens 2021-11-11-24, 2021.
Rocket Lab’s 23rd Electron mission is targeted for lift-off during a two-week launch window that opens 2021-11-27.
Both November Electron missions are scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab received a Phase 1 SBIR award from DARPA in 2015 for studies that included examining the use of Electron as an upper stage for DARPA’s XS-1 spaceplane and for flight data to support development of an autonomous flight termination system.
ACS3 will fly as part of an Electron rideshare mission launching in mid-2022 from New Zealand.
Varda Space purchased three Photon satellite buses from Rocket Lab in August 2022 but did not choose Rocket Lab’s Electron for the initial launch.
A two-week launch window for Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch opens 2021-11-11 and runs through 2021-11-24.