Electron launches twice in under 24 hours!

Rocket Lab ended its launches for November with a record-setting doubleheader launch for the company. This record had the company launch two Electron vehicles from two launch sites, in different hemispheres, a little under twenty-two hours apart.

The first of these launches occurred on November 24th from Launch Complex 2, in Virginia, while flying on a suborbital trajectory into the Atlantic Ocean. Not much is known about this launch due to its U.S. Department of Defense connections, the mission is however believed to have been the second of four for Leidos to develop advanced weapons technology. As such Electron was flying in its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) configuration.

Completing the doubleheader was a launch from Launch Complex 1B, in New Zealand on the Māhia Peninsula, heading to low Earth orbit. The mission was called 'Ice AIS Baby' and launched five Internet of Things satellites on behalf of the French company Kinéis. Following the launch, Kinéis said the following:

"Five new satellites have successfully joined our constellation, thanks to another flawless launch with Rocket Lab! This brings us closer to completing our full constellation of 25 nanosatellites dedicated to revolutionizing Global IoT Connectivity and maritime tracking."
"Along our Global IoT Connectivity, Kinéis' Satellite AIS (S-AIS) technology, we're delivering high-performance connectivity that provides the most reliable S-AIS data 24/7. This mission strengthens our commitment to enhancing maritime safety and surveillance by enabling companies to: Protect and prevent ships from incidents like collisions and groundings; Monitor traffic within exclusive economic zones; Detect suspicious activities to ensure security."

As mentioned earlier, both of these launches occurred just under twenty-two hours apart. Rocket Lab's Chief Executive Officer Peter Beck shared that both launches occurred 21 hours, 55 minutes, and 18 seconds apart a few hours later.

The launch doubleheader also set a record turnaround time between Eletron launches, having previously been just over a week back in March of this year.

Having completed both of these missions, Rocket Lab has launched a total of fourteen times in 2024. Electron has now also performed a total of fifty-six launches. Rocket Lab is hoping to fly Electron up to four more times this year too.

What is Electron?

Electron is a two-stage launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab. Electron utilizes the first electric-pump-fed engines to power its small rocket on both stages and is made of carbon fiber for its tanks.

Rocket Lab claims Electron can launch 300 kilograms into low Earth orbit or 200 kilograms into Sun-Syncronous orbit.

The first-stage is powered by nine Rutherford engines generating 23 tons of thrust burning rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen. The second-stage is powered by a single vacuum version of the Rutherford engine generating 2.6 tons of thrust, also burning rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen.

Who is Rocket Lab?

Rocket Lab is an American spaceflight company founded in June 2006 and headquartered in Long Beach, California. Rocket Lab currently operates the Electron small satellite launch vehicle and is developing the partially reusable medium-lift Neutron launch vehicle. The company also owns a number of other spaceflight companies to provide an end-to-end solution from mission planning to launch.