29 May, 2017
New Zealand-American aerospace company Rocket Lab today revealed it planned to send a test rocket into orbit from its launch facility on Onenui Station during a 10-day launch window, starting from 9am on May 22.
"We are all incredibly excited to get to this point". That'll kick off a 10 day attempt window, during which Rocket Lab cautions that it may abort launch several times during this period, since the goal is to run tests, and not to necessarily launch a rocket successfully - the important part will be collecting data to help ensure that later launches actually do go off as planned, especially once Rocket Labs starts providing commercial services to launch customers.
The upcoming test flight is first of the three that the company wants to do before it starts commercial launches later this year.
Founder Peter Beck says his motto is to make space accessible.
The maiden flight of the Electron rocket, which the company has dubbed "It's a Test", will launch a small test payload to an elliptical orbit between 300 and 500 km above the Earth at an 83-degree inclination, the company said.
Safety concerns also mean that Rocket Lab will advise the public to follow the instructions of emergency services and remain in safe areas during the test launch.
"As with any new rocket, there are a lot of factors that come together ahead of a test and we're not going to fly unless we're ready".
MAHIA could become the site of the world's first successful private orbital launch from as early as next Monday if a planned rocket test launch is successful. We are about to enter the next phase of the Electron program, which will see the culmination of years of work from our dedicated team here at Rocket Lab.
The first flight of the Electron rocket is of particular importance to Moon Express, a team of American engineers racing to put a lunar lander on the surface of the moon to win the Google Lunar X Prize competition.
Created in 2006 by Peter Beck, Rocket Lab is a private company with major investors including Data Collective, Promus Ventures and Lockheed Martin, amongst others. Not only does the rocket benefit from an entirely new propulsion cycle that utilises an oxygen/kerosene pump fed engine, it is also made entirely from 3D printed components.
"The rocket, once separated from the payload, remains in orbit for a number of months before returning to earth", Mr Beck said. There would be no public viewing areas to watch any launch and nearby roads would be closed.
Subsequent road closures will be notified after a decision to scrub a launch attempt. Customers already signed up to fly payloads from the Rocket Lab site include NASA and Moon Express.