Rocket Lab Electron Live and Let Fly (NROL-123)
Electron
Status
Success
Date
21 MAR 2024
07:25
Launch Provider
Rocket Lab
Launch Pad
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Mission Overview
Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Rocket
Electron
Mission Type
Government/Top Secret
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Stages
3
Livestream
Rocket Details
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
Height
18 m
Diameter
1.2 m
Launch Mass
13 T
Thrust
162 kN