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Space

Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Reaches Orbit For First Time

By Marc Selinger

Monday, January 22nd, 2018

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Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Reaches Orbit For First Time

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

Rocket Lab, one of several firms vying for a share of the burgeoning small-satellite launcher business, reached orbit and unleashed small satellites for the first time with its Electron rocket Jan. 21.Minutes after its afternoon liftoff from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, the “Still Testing” Electron deployed a Planet Dove Pioneer satellite for Earth imaging and two Spire Lemur-2 satellites for weather and ship tracking.The launch “marks the beginning of a new era in commercial access to space,” said Peter Beck, Rocket…

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