Rocket Lab, a leading aerospace company, has successfully launched its recovery Electron mission from New Zealand, marking its second return to flight mission after a setback last year. The liftoff took place at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, following delays caused by poor weather conditions. On board the Electron rocket were four Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellites, developed by Spire Global and NorthStar Earth & Space.
This mission, known as the “Four of a Kind,” was Rocket Lab’s 43rd launch overall and its latest attempt to recover the first stage booster. Approximately 17 minutes into the flight, the booster descended into the Pacific Ocean under parachutes and was successfully retrieved by a recovery vessel. Rocket Lab aims to eventually re-fly an entire first stage booster, building on its previous achievement of partial reuse with the re-flight of a Rutherford engine in August.
Rocket Lab’s CEO, Peter Beck, expressed his excitement about the mission’s success and highlighted the company’s busy schedule for the year ahead. He stated, “We have more missions booked in 2024 than we’ve ever scheduled before, and it is a real privilege to continue to deliver small launch reliability for our satellite customers on advanced missions like these and for all the missions to come in 2024.”
The four SSA satellites deployed during this mission were developed by Spire Global and NorthStar Earth & Space. They were placed into a 530 km circular Earth orbit by Exolaunch, a German company. This deployment marks the beginning of NorthStar’s ambitious plan to create a 24-satellite constellation called “NorthStar-1.” The company aims to provide continuous monitoring of satellites and nearby objects, offering early detection and warning of safety- and security-related phenomena.
Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement and emphasized the significance of this mission. He stated, “This mission is the first of its kind and is the physical manifestation of a decade-long dream to deliver hope to future generations of space enthusiasts and to all of us who depend on a sustainable and clean space environment for the wellbeing of our planet.”
NorthStar plans to launch the first 12 satellites of its constellation by 2026, further advancing its mission to ensure the safety and security of space activities. Rocket Lab’s successful recovery Electron mission sets the stage for an exciting year ahead, as the company continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and deliver reliable launch services for its satellite customers.