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Space

Rocket Lab Tests New Kick Stage On Electron Rocket

By Marc Selinger

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018

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Rocket Lab Tests New Kick Stage On Electron Rocket

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket lifts off Jan. 21, 2018, in New Zealand. (Photo courtesy of Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab, whose new Electron launch vehicle recently reached orbit for the first time, revealed Jan. 23 that the rocket included a previously undisclosed kick stage designed to increase orbital options for small satellites.During its Jan. 21 mission, the Electron lifted off from New Zealand and deployed three small satellites: a Planet Dove Pioneer for Earth imaging and two Spire Lemur-2s for weather and ship tracking (Defense Daily, Jan. 22). While the rocket’s second stage deployed the Dove, the kick…

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Pentagon

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