Rocket Lab Electron Launch

[Antares JS]

Just got kicked off the island so Rocket Lab could do their thing. It's their first launch from Virginia.

Tiny little thing though. I could just see it behind the Antares pad as I as leaving.

There's a two hour launch window from 1800-2000 Eastern.

 

[techrat]

My only question is will skies be clear enough in the evening to see a bright point of light heading up if I look south? We have a nasty storm moving in for Wednesday which is predicted to dump about 5 inches of snow into the local area, I just hope it's not completely overcast. Ah well, next time maybe. When it's warmer as well.

 

[techrat]

Tiny little thing though

It's only a matter of time before there are 1:1 scale kits. Might take an O-motor to get it off the pad, but probably do-able.

 

[Antares JS]

 

[Antares JS]

 

[cls]

Thanks for the YouTube link

Looks like success, congrats Rocket Lab

 

[Antares JS]

Not quite a success yet. They still need to fire the third stage to circularize the orbit.

 

[Antares JS]

Looks like it's a success now.

 

[techrat]

Looks like it's a success now.

Thank goodness. I have Rocket Lab stock, so their success is my success too!

 

[kuririn]

The Rocket Lab Electron "Rocket Like a Hurricane" launched today.
It is carrying two satellites for NASA that will monitor hurricanes.
A second mission in two weeks will launch two more satellites, completing the constellation.
Launch was nominal.





Stage separation


Second stage ignition


Battery hot swap: The rocket drops the spent batteries powering the Rutherford engines' turbo pumps and switches to a fresh set. (Dropping off on the right side of the pic.)


Never gets old.