Rocket Lab successfully returns to flight

Electron launching "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" // Photo: Rocket Lab

Last night Rocket Lab launched their Electron Rocket from the stunning launch facility on the New Zealand Mahia Peninsula yesterday at 11:05pm EDT. The mission “I Can’t Believe It's Not Optical” went off without a hitch. This was Capella Space’s microsatellite imaging system that allows the customer to view the earth through clouds and in the dark at a rapid pace.

Although Rocket Lab is currently working on re-flying their rockets, no attempt was made to catch the first stage of the rocket upon re-entry of the earth’s atmosphere. The launch yesterday follows Rocket Lab’s last launch, “Pics or it Didn’t Happen”, in which the rocket failed to reach orbit. Originally thought to be a battery hot swap issue, Rocket Lab later disclosed that it was due to an anomalous electrical system.

Rocket Lab has fixed the issue, improved the launch vehicle and it seems to be business as usual. The company recently completed a second launch site in Wallops Island, Virginia and will be launching from US soil very soon.