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Electron
Electron is an orbital launch vehicle currently flying operated by Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, 18 m tall, 320 kg to low Earth orbit, 3 stages.
| Operator | Rocket Lab · Long Beach, California |
|---|---|
| Status | Currently flying |
| First flight | 2017 |
| Height | 18 m |
| Diameter | 1.2 m |
| Liftoff mass | 13 t |
| Liftoff thrust | 162 kN |
| Stages | 3 |
| Payload to LEO | 320 kg |
| Payload to SSO | 200 kg |
| Engines | 9 × Rutherford · 1 × Rutherford Vacuum |
| Propellant | RP-1 / liquid oxygen |
| Reuse | Booster recovery demonstrated, not yet routine |
| Launch sites | LC-1, Mahia, New Zealand · LC-2, Wallops, Virginia |
Electric turbopumps and a fully 3D-printed engine. Carbon-composite airframe. The dedicated small-satellite ride that everyone else is measured against.
About Rocket Lab
Built the small-launch market almost single-handedly, and is now scaling to a medium-lift reusable vehicle. Founded 2006. Official site.