This crosses the isthmus connecting the peninsula with the rest of the North Island before connecting with SH 2 at the settlement of Nuhaka. Choose from Rocket Lab's two private launch sites; Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, and Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, USA. Rocket Lab’s launch for the NRO in January 2020 was the first for the agency from outside the US in its entire 60-year history; more are scheduled for this year. 673. It was attended by approximately 240 people, including company employees, local landowners, and then Labour Party leader Andrew Little. 26. Work on Pad B will be completed in late 2020, with concurrent launches from Launch Complex 1 possible within the next 12 months. The first launch of the Ātea (Māori for "space") suborbital sounding rocket occurred in late 2009. While the site would not permit equatorial launches due to the presence of Banks Peninsula to the east, it was favourable for Sun-synchronous orbitalflights, which the company believed would be of primary interest to its customers. [18], The second launch from the launch pad was made 21 January 2018 at 01:43 UTC, successfully making it to orbit. Rocket Lab, founded in New Zealand and now headquartered in Long Beach, California, launched its first Electron in 2017. [13] The company said that efforts would continue to gain consent for a launch pad on Kaitorete Spit due to its logistical superiority and the foreseen need for additional facilities, but that the Mahia site offered superior launch corridor and flight rate opportunities because of its geographical location and relatively sparse air traffic. Most rockets … [12], While certain authorisations had been obtained for Kaitorete, such as stormwater and air discharge permits from Environment Canterbury, a coastal permit for occupation of the area, and a Department of Conservation permit, the Christchurch City Council had not consented to the development due to an incomplete Cultural Impact Assessment, resulting in no action under Sections 95 and 104 of the Resource Management Act 1991. Frequent and reliable access to space is here! Load Error [22][needs update]. With this major milestone complete, the Electron launch vehicle, launch team, and the LC-2 pad systems are now ready for Rocket Lab’s first launch from U.S. soil, the company said. [7], Rocket Lab announced on 1 July 2015 that it had selected Kaitorete Spit in New Zealand's South Island near Canterbury as the site of the launch facility for its Electron rocket, and that it hoped to have construction finished by the end of the year. 26. Rocket Lab offers the world’s only private orbital launch range in Mahia, New Zealand. The Electron STP-27 RD mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 at 06:00 UTC on 5 May 2019. A rocket that was 45cm went the shortest at 0m. The first launches from Wallops are planned in the first quarter of 2021. This is "Rocket Lab Launch Site Nears Completion Ahead of Test Launches" by Rocket Lab on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love… Photo: Screenshot / Rocket Lab. Frequent and reliable access to space is here! All of that adds up to make a launch site than can support frequent launches, making it easier than ever before for small satellites to get to space. Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit", "Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch", "Rocket Lab rolls out first Electron at LC-2 ahead of Q3 2020 launch", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocket_Lab_Launch_Complex_1&oldid=1016806749, Buildings and structures in the Hawke's Bay Region, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from March 2021, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 April 2021, at 05:31. Construction is currently underway on a second launch pad at Launch Complex 1. Lockheed Martin is reportedly interested in launching a variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron booster from the Sutherland site. Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 (also known as Mahia Launch Complex or Spaceport) is a commercial spaceport located close to Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Small-satellite launch company Rocket Lab just officially declared its second launch pad open, but it has already broken ground on a third. obtaining resource consents for developing, "Maiden flight of Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher reaches space", "Rocket Lab to build second launch pad in New Zealand", "Rocket Lab finishes launch complex in New Zealand", "Rocket Lab Completes Major Technical Milestone Ahead of Test Launches", "Rocket Lab Selects New Zealand Launch Site", "All set for lift off on Mahia Peninsula", "Rocket Lab chooses Mahia for space launches", "Canty's Birdlings Flat on the back burner for Rocket Lab launch", "Rocket Lab Opens Private Orbital Launch Site in New Zealand", "Airways hopes Rocket Lab launch will be 'first of many, "World's first private orbital launch complex completed in New Zealand", "Rocket Lab's test launch window for its private orbital complex begins May 21", "Rocket Lab's Electron rocket reaches space, but not orbit, in first test flight", "Blast off! Rocket Lab - Return To Sender Launch 11/20/2020 - YouTube. [8], The Mahia Peninsula site at Onenui Station was mentioned in August 2015 as a possible second launch facility. Rocket Lab - Return To Sender Launch 11/20/2020. Rocket Lab Headquarters. 57. 540. Dubbed Launch Complex 2, the location will be used along with Rocket Lab’s primary launch site in New Zealand to up the frequency of the company’s launches in the years ahead. Rocket Lab has opened its launch site at Mahia - the world's first private orbital launch complex. The site is a raised plateau surrounded on three sides by cliffs, and at an altitude of 104 metres (341 ft). Mahia, New Zealand. Rocket Lab last launched its Electron vehicle nearly nine months ago, in January, from its New Zealand launch site.This was the vehicle's second flight and first successful orbital mission. This FAA compliant site can accommodate a launch rate of 120 flights per year and is licensed for a launch to occur every 72 hours. Rocket Lab Launch Site, Rocket Lab Electron, Rocket Lab New Zealand, First Rocket Launch, NASA Rocket Launches, Rocket Lab Logo, Rocket Lab Engine, Rocket Lab Launch Pad, Latest Rocket Launch, Peter Beck Rocket Lab, Small Rocket Launch, Small Rocket Launcher, Rocket Lab USA, Rocket Lab Mahia, Rocket Lab Launch Complex, Space Race Rockets, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Rocket Lab … Share. Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 represents a new responsive launch capability for the United States on home soil. The only road access is a single road leading north from the site. The spaceport is located close to Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, in the Hawke's Bay Region of the North Island's east coast. [15], The Mahia Peninsula site, named Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, was officially opened on 26 September 2016 (UTC) in a ceremony presided over by Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce. With the launch of Electron on 25 May 2017, it became the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt, and the first site in New Zealand to host an orbital launch attempt. [11] Rocket Lab signed an agreement with air traffic service provider Airways New Zealand in early September 2016 to develop "special use airspace" and ensure regular flight activity, which the company estimates could be up to 100 launches per year. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force will be the first customer for a Rocket Lab Electron launching in 2020 from a new launch site in Virginia, the company announced Dec. 12. To view this site you can download a newer version of Internet Explorer. Rocket Lab offers the world’s only private orbital launch range in Mahia, New Zealand. ELaNa XIX is the first mission for NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services. [2][17] While lift-off from Launch Complex 1 was successful, the rocket failed to reach its intended 300 to 500 km (190 to 310 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit, only making it to about 250 km (155 mi). Tailored specifically for U.S. government small satellite missions, Launch Complex 2 can support up to 12 missions per year. [9] By mid-October, the application had been approved by the Wairoa District Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council only seven days after its submission,[10][11] with the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce and the Eastland Community Trust working with Rocket Lab to support its bid for the Mahia site. Auckland, New Zealand. [9] It had first been visited by company officials in April 2015 as part of their initial scouting for launch sites,[10] and were preparing to submit a resource consent application. Mahia’s remote location makes it perfect for launching rockets. This enables a lower-cost launch option with a wide spectrum of orbital inclinations. Official account for Rocket Lab. All payloads deployed! There’s very little marine and air traffic, and a wide range of launch angles. Long Beach, California, USA. Opening access to space to improve life on Earth. That's now eight Electron launches to date and a total of 39 satellites delivered to orbit #LookMaNoHands #OpeningAccessToSpace. [5] During the test phase of launch operations, which began in May 2017,[2][6] the exclusion zone would likely be an eight-kilometre (five-mile) radius from the pad, and would reduce in size once the site became commercially operational. The Electron rocket, named "Still Testing", carried a Dove Pioneer satellite for Planet Labs, two Lemur-2 satellites for Spire Global and the Humanity Star. [12], On 23 November 2015, Rocket Lab stated that the Mahia Peninsula site would be the priority launch facility because of delays in obtaining resource consents for developing at Kaitorete Spit. 57. (Image credit: Rocket Lab) Launch Pad, Boca Chica Launch Site Texas , United States SpaceX has confirmed they will attempt a flight of Starship Prototype SN10 as early as Wednesday, March 3. From the site it is possible to reach orbital inclinations from sun-synchronous through to 39 degrees. 10 CubeSats from various NASA Centers and Universities will be deployed into a 500 km (310 mile) circular low Earth orbit with an inclination of 85 degrees. Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1. Rocket Lab’s 55-foot-tall (17-meter) Electron launcher lifted off from Launch Complex 1 at Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island at 3:18 a.m. EST (0818 GMT) Friday. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab has facilities and launch sites across the world - each offering unique capabilities and benefits. A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off with seven satellites aboard during a launch from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand on July 4, 2020. The site was also logistically favourable as the c… [19][20], On 19 December 2019, Rocket Lab announced that they had begun construction on a second pad at LC-1, known as LC-1B to meet increased launch rates. [4] With the Electron launch of 21 January 2018, it became the first private spaceport to host a successful orbital launch. While the site would not permit equatorial launches due to the presence of Banks Peninsula to the east, it was favourable for Sun-synchronous orbital flights, which the company believed would be of primary interest to its customers. Since its inception, Rocket Lab has put 53 spacecraft into low Earth orbit on 12 separate missions, with this weekend’s launch the third for Rocket Lab this year.