Electron Family rocket variant.
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On 2023-08-17, Rocket Lab signed a deal to launch an Earth observation satellite on Electron for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).
iQPS originally had QPS-SAR-5 manifested on another launch vehicle but selected Rocket Lab to launch QPS-SAR-5 on a dedicated Electron mission to expedite deployment.
The 'We Love The Nightlife' mission was the first of four new dedicated Electron launches for Capella that were announced in February 2023.
Rocket Lab launched its 40th Electron mission on 2023-08-24.
Rocket Lab set a return-to-launch window for its Electron launch vehicle that opens on 2023-11-28 and extends into 2023-12-01 for a dedicated mission for Japan-based Earth imaging company iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space).
Rocket Lab expects to resume Electron launches no earlier than 2023-11-28 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Prior to the 2023-09-19 anomaly, Rocket Lab had achieved 20 consecutive successful orbital missions and 37 successful Electron missions overall deploying 171 satellites to orbit for government and commercial operators.
Rocket Lab completed payload integration for its 42nd Electron launch and targeted no earlier than 2023-12-13 NZT for launch pending a wet dress rehearsal.
Electron rockets launched earlier versions of Capella radar imaging satellites in August 2020 and March 2023.
Rocket Lab USA signed a launch services agreement to launch an Earth observation satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on a rideshare mission in the first half of 2024.
Electron was the second most frequently launched American rocket 2023, behind the SpaceX Falcon 9.
Rocket Lab rescheduled the Electron launch of the iQPS GEO payload to late 2023-12-14 from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand due to inclement weather.
Rocket Lab USA is preparing to launch its 42nd Electron mission no earlier than 2023-12-15 between 17:00 and 19:00 NZDT (04:00–06:00 UTC).
Rocket Lab successfully launched the QPS-SAR-5 (Tsukuyomi-1) radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS on an Electron rocket.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. launched its 42nd Electron rocket on 2023-12-15.
On 2024-01-31, Rocket Lab launched the 'Four Of A Kind' mission, its first Electron mission of 2024, for Spire Global and NorthStar from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 19:34 NZDT / 06:34 UTC.
NorthStar plans to launch the next eight satellites on two future Electron missions by 2026.
NorthStar signed a launch contract with Rocket Lab for a fall 2023 launch that was delayed after an Electron launch failure in September 2023.
Rocket Lab previously launched an Electron booster with a previously flown Rutherford engine in August 2023.
Rocket Lab used the 2024-01-31 launch to test its ability to recover Electron boosters.