Rocket Lab successfully launches first commercial rocket

Sunday, 11 November 2018

'All payloads deployed!!' tweeted Rocket Lab chief Peter Beck after the company successfully put its first Electron commercial rocket into orbit from Hawke's Bay's Mahia Peninsula, after months of fruitless attempts.

The rocket, dubbed 'It's Business Time', took off from Māhia Peninsula at 4.50pm on Sunday.

Speaking to Stuff post-launch, Beck described the effort as 'exquisite'.

'The team really, really nailed it … right now the world is waking up to an entirely new normal,' he said.

* Rocket Lab pushes back first commercial launch by 'weeks'

* Rocket Lab investigating rocket battery overheating**

'We proved today that you can go to orbit. One of our customers … we were able to get them on orbit in about a month and generally that customer has been waiting for a year.

'We proved you can really have true, on demand, rapid deployment of space craft in orbit, which is what the industry has been trying to achieve for many, many decades. The magnitude of what was achieved today on so many fronts was just enormous from the team.'

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket lifted six satellites and a technology demonstrator to low Earth orbit.

The satellites were from Spire Global, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Fleet Space Technologies, as well as an educational payload from the Irvine Cube Sat STEM Program and a drag sail technology demonstrator designed and built by High Performance Space Structure Systems GmBH.

Rocket Lab's next mission was launching payloads for Nasa, Beck said.

'In a few weeks' time we hope to put another vehicle on the pad – that's for our very high profile Nasa mission, so we're taking those payloads to orbit for Nasa,' he said.

'If we can put another one on the pad in a few week's time, I can't even think of words to describe that – that is a crazy thing.

(L-R) , Mayor Phil Goff, PM Jacinda Ardern, Actor William Shatner, US Ambassador Scott Brown and Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck during the opening of the new Rocket Lab factory on October 12, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand.

'That requires huge, huge effort but a whole new way of thinking. To be able to build launch vehicles that fast [and] get them on the pad that fast, I think there's only been one other company in history and it took them about seven years to get there.'

Rocket Lab launched its first Electron rocket 'Still Testing' in January, but this is its first rocket with a commercial payload.

Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck said the company had expanded its global production, to launch an Electron rocket to orbit every week by 2020.

It's Business Time, had issues with a motor controller, which scrubbed the launch window for June/July.

Rocket Lab spokeswoman Morgan Bailey said the rocket was now equipped with an upgraded motor controller. 'Unusual behaviour was detected with the motor controller. We've since redesigned the hardware and the issue was resolved.'

Our launch team had a stunning view on the way to Launch Complex 1 this morning. #ItsBusinessTime pic.twitter.com/jdZPo8WHrI

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) November 10, 2018

The motor controller had also pushed back the launch from mid April and may to June.

As the launch was heavily dependent on weather, Rocket Lab had set up a nine-day launch window from November 11 till November 19 for the attempts.

Sunday's launch was commanded from Rocket Lab's new rocket factory in Auckland's Mount Wellington.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Hollywood actor William Shatner were at the facility's earlier opening.

The 7500 sqm mass production site in Mount Wellington will add to Rocket Lab's existing production facility and headquarters in California.

Electron is vertical on the pad at LC-1. #ItsBusinessTime pic.twitter.com/GN2TZ83kVQ

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) November 10, 2018

Beck said the company had expanded its global production, to launch an Electron rocket to orbit every week by 2020.

'Every detail of the Rocket Lab launch system has been designed to provide small satellites with rapid and reliable access to space,' Beck said.

The launching service will allow satellites to be transported, used for apps like Uber or Google Maps.

Electron launch vehicles will undergo final assembly in Mount Wellington, where all parts will go through a streamlined process for testing and integration into the rocket before its launch from the Māhia Peninsula.

Electron is a two-stage rocket capable of delivering payloads of 150kg.

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