Rocket Lab is an American aerospace company with a subsidiary in New Zealand, whose mission is to develop cost-effective, lightweight commercial orbital launch services. Electron is a two-stage orbital disposable launch vehicle, developed by aerospace.
Postponed since March by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the so-called Don’t Stop Me Now rocket is now ready for launch.
Electron
‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ is a carpool mission that takes multiple satellites into orbit for three different clients .
The Electron , 17 meters high, 1.2 in diameter, and with a launch weight of 12,250 kg, is a three-stage rocket made entirely of carbon fiber. Its engine, printed in 3D.
Among others, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ will launch ANDESITE , a small satellite built by Boston University students to study the Earth’s magnetic field.
The M2 Pathfinder satellite will also travel in orbit on ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’. The mission is a collaboration between the University of New South Weals, Canberra Space and the Australian government. The satellite will demonstrate the ability of a software-based onboard radio to operate and reconfigure itself while in orbit.
The company’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Know’ mission is named after Rocket Lab board member Scott Smith, a Queen fan who died in February. The Queen song of the same name was Smith’s favorite .
The launch was broadcast from here . In theory it should have been launched tonight, but eventually the launch was canceled due to the wind.