Launch Successful
Electron | Happily Ever Faster (BlackSky Gen-3 5)
Rocket Lab
Mission Status
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Mission Updates
Mission Details
Note: Payload and customer identities were not publicly announced. 5th of the BlackSky Gen-3 high resolution Earth-imaging satellites.
Mission Type Earth Science
Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Launch Window 01:00 AM -
03:28 AM
Rocket Configuration
Name Electron
Manufacturer Rocket Lab
Height 18 m
Diameter 1.2 m
Maiden Flight 2017-05-25
Success Rate 91/95
(96%)
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.