Rocket Lab launches first rocket from Virginia, USA

Robert Besser
31 Jan 2023, 08:59 GMT+10

Long Beach, California-based Rocket Lab has launched its first mission from the United States, as part of its efforts to expand its business amidst a surge in private rocket activity at American space ports
At 6 p.m. EST, the company's Electron rocket lifted off from its new launch pad at the NASA-operated Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia
The launch was Rocket Lab's first outside its flagship launch site on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, where its 32 previous Electron missions were launched from

LONG BEACH, California: Long Beach, California-based Rocket Lab has launched its first mission from the United States, as part of its efforts to expand its business amidst a surge in private rocket activity at American space ports.

At 6 p.m. EST, the company's Electron rocket lifted off from its new launch pad at the NASA-operated Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

The launch was Rocket Lab's first outside its flagship launch site on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, where its 32 previous Electron missions were launched from.

Rocket Lab secured an agreement to use the Launch Complex 2 site in Virginia in 2018.

The launch this week took place after being delayed several times, first over a lengthy certification review of Electron's automated flight termination system, and then due to bad weather in Virginia.

The routine mission sent three satellites toward orbit for radio-frequency analytics firm Hawkeye 360.

US regulators are adapting to the rising popularity of private rocket launches, which is expected to further grow as several US launch startups are planning their first rocket launches into space in 2023.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Jamaican Times.

More Information

28 ℃

Partly Cloudy / Windy in Kingston

Business

Section

Eli Lilly announces new plant in Ireland; Limerick site to employ 300

DUBLIN, Ireland: US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has said it will build a $1bn medicine manufacturing site in Limerick. Lily ...

Violent pitching on business jet kills passenger over New England

WASHINGTON D.C.: The US National Transportation Safety Board has said that after an automated cockpit warning that switched off a ...

China economy remains slow as industrial profits down 4% in 2023

BEIJING, California: As the world's second-largest economy is still struggling to fully recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19, most ...

U.S. industrial stocks advance Monday, techs lag

NEW YORK, New York - Bank shares were being bought up on Monday as U.S. industrial stocks kicked the week ...

With eye on travelers, US reduces airline requirements at airports

WASHINGTON D.C.: To address summer airport congestion and low air traffic controller staffing levels, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said ...

Canada tells Biden it will spend more on Great Lakes water quality

OTTAWA, Canada: After a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, Ottawa has pledged to ...

International

Section