January 21, 2018 at 04:43 Moscow time, private company Rocket Lab for the first time successfully launched the rocket Electron and put into orbit a payload in the form of three small satellites. This is stated in the message Rocket Lab.
Electron rocket
Following the launch, three commercial satellites successfully entered the orbit - one Dove Pioneer, intended for surveying the surface of the Earth, and two Lemur-2, which are used to track ships and meteorological research.
This was the second test launch of the US-New Zealand company. The first took place in May 2017, but the second stage of the rocket did not reach the calculated orbit due to improper setup of the telemetry system.
For the second launch, Rocket Lab decided to use commercial load. Initially, the start was scheduled for December 8, 2017 and several times was postponed.
Rocket Lab, which employs about 200 people, has been developing Electron since 2012. The company manufactures engines and electronic components in the US, but the remaining parts are being built in New Zealand, where ultimately rockets are assembled.
The purpose of Rocket Lab is to create inexpensive light missiles, which can often be used for small launches. Now, medium-sized customers have to adjust to the starts of larger missiles, whose schedule can be changed at the request of the main client.
According to Rocket Lab forecasts, the launch price of Electron will be about $ 5 million. The missile can bring up to 225 kg of cargo to low-earth orbit and up to 150 kg into orbit about 500 km, notes N + 1. For comparison, one launch of Falcon 9 from SpaceX Ilona Mask costs $ 62 million, but it can bring up to 22.8 tons to low Earth orbit.
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