At approximately one minute and 11 seconds into the flight, the vehicle passed through the region of maximum dynamic pressure – also known as max-q – where aerodynamic stresses on the rocket are at their greatest.Įlectron’s nine first-stage engines burned until the T+2:25 mark when they shut down simultaneously in an event known as main engine cutoff (MECO). Shortly after clearing the pad, Electron began pitching downrange over the Atlantic Ocean. The nine Rutherford engines on the first stage ignited at T-2 seconds, with liftoff occurring at T0 following a final automated status check by the flight computers. The launch team is in control of the countdown up until T-2 minutes, at which point Electron’s onboard computers take over and begin the launch sequence.Įlectron takes flight from Launch Complex 2 during the “Virginia Is For Launch Lovers” mission. Loading of RP-1 fuel into both stages commenced shortly afterward, with liquid oxygen loading starting at the T-2 hour mark.Īpproximately 18 minutes before launch, Rocket Lab’s launch director conducted a go/no-go poll of the launch team and verified that all systems, including those onboard the rocket and payload, were ready for flight. The countdown to liftoff officially began at T-4 hours, at which point Electron was raised vertical.

During this test, the Electron rocket’s propellant tanks were filled to flight levels, and mission controllers simulated a typical countdown to ensure that all vehicle systems were operating as expected.įollowing the completion of the WDR, Electron was rolled back to its hangar for payload integration and fairing encapsulation before heading out once again to the launch pad. Launch preparations for Thursday’s mission began with a successful wet dress rehearsal (WDR) test on the pad at Launch Complex 2. Each of these Capella Space missions, including “Stronger Together,” feature Motorized Lightband separation systems that are produced in-house by Rocket Lab, in line with the company’s vertical integration strategy. The first launch under this new agreement is currently scheduled for no earlier than the second half of 2023.

We’re thrilled to welcome back on Electron for five missions in 2023 to expand their SAR imagery constellation. These next-generation satellites will have a mass of around 150 to 170 kilograms and will be deployed into mid-inclination, 600-kilometer orbits.įive launches, one constellation. In February, Rocket Lab and Capella Space announced that they had secured a multi-launch deal that will see four more dedicated Electron flights from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, each with a single Acadia satellite as the payload. The “Stronger Together” mission is the company’s second flight on Rocket Lab’s Electron, having previously enjoyed the successful launch of its Sequoia spacecraft during “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical” in August 2020. With this latest launch, Capella expands its existing satellite constellation as a response to increased customer demand for SAR data. In addition, the duo is outfitted with high-quality, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems intended to capture clear images of the Earth’s surface during day and night and in any weather conditions. The two satellites – named Capella 9 and 10 – have masses of 100 kilograms each, and launched together as part of a dedicated mission to a 600-kilometer circular orbit inclined at 44 degrees.īoth spacecraft were developed under the Whitney subclass of satellites owned and operated by Capella Space. The payload for the “Stronger Together” mission consisted of two spacecraft from Capella Space, a company headquartered in San Francisco, California that specializes in building satellites used for Earth observation and imaging. Ultimately, there was no planned attempt at a first stage retrieval during the launch from Wallops, as Electron flew in a fully expendable configuration. Per Beck, the data gained from marine recovery during this upcoming flight will help Rocket Lab to determine a proper route towards facilitating a reliable and rapid means of reuse for Electron, whilst keeping costs to a minimum. The next booster recovery operation, which will take place during the upcoming “The Beat Goes On” mission from New Zealand, will see Electron fitted with additional waterproofing for ocean landings. This could include a shift to ocean recovery using only marine assets, as was used during initial Electron retrieval tests before the eventual catch attempts took place. (Credit: Mack Crawford for NSF/L2)Īs of late, however, the California-based company is weighing its options in terms of first stage reuse, as indicated by CEO Peter Beck in a Feb. Render of an Electron first stage descending under parachute.

Nasa wallops rocket launch live