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Launch Successful

Electron | Still Testing

January 21, 2018 at 1:43 AM UTC

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Electron | Still Testing launch image
Mission imagery · Electron

Launch details

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January 21, 2018 at 1:43 AM UTC

Status: Launch Successful · Live feed refreshes every 30 seconds

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand · -39.2628, 177.8645

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Rocket
Electron
Launch site
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Launch probability
Not published
Window opens
January 21, 2018 at 1:30 AM UTC
Window closes
January 21, 2018 at 5:30 AM UTC
Feed updated
December 14, 2025 at 8:28 AM UTC

Mission description

The second test flight of the Electron small satellite launch vehicle. It is also the first Electron flight to carry commercial payload. It includes a Dove cubesat for company Planet intended for Earth observation. And also two Lemur-2 cubesats for company Spire which carry payloads for meteorology and ship traffic tracking.

Mission media

Watch the launch.

Rocket Lab, Electron flight 'Still Testing' 21 January 2018

Full video record
Vehicle

Electron

Height

18 m

Diameter

1.2 m

LEO capacity

300 kg

Successful launches

88

Launch complex

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 is a commercial spaceport located close to Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of Māhia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is owned and operated by private spaceflight company Rocket Lab and supports launches of the company's Electron rocket for small satellites. With the launch of Electron on 25 May 2017, it became the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt, and the first site in New Zealand to host an orbital launch attempt. With the Electron launch of 21 January 2018, it became the first private spaceport to host a successful orbital launch.

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