Electron
ActiveRocket Lab (RL)
May 25, 2017
Description
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.
Specifications
-
Minimum Stage
2 -
Max Stage
3 -
Length
18.0 m -
Diameter
1.2 m -
Fairing Diameter
1.2 m -
Launch Mass
13.0 T -
Thrust
162.0 kN
Family
-
Name
Electron -
Family
― -
Variant
― -
Alias
― -
Full Name
Electron
Payload Capacity
-
Launch Cost
$6000000 -
Low Earth Orbit
300.0 kg -
Geostationary Transfer
Orbit
― -
Direct Geostationary
― -
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
225.0 kg
Rocket Lab
Commercial
CEO: Peter Beck
RL 2006Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
Upcoming Spaceflights
Electron | STP-S30
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
STP-S30 is a complex mission that will deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the DoD and contribute to future space systems development. The projected primary payload, DISKSat, will demonstrate sustained very low earth orbit (VLEO) flight and test a unique, 1-meter diameter, disk-shaped satellite bus that is designed to increase on-orbit persistence.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | NorthStar 2
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | StriX Launch 8
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | StriX Launch 9
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
HASTE | Leidos-4
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
HASTE | Leidos-3
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
Electron | Raise and Shine (RAISE-4)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
RAISE-4 (RApid Innovative payload demonstration Satellite-4) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite for on-orbit demonstrations of 15 demonstration components and equipment selected by public solicitation. The satellite will be operated in response to requests from the demonstration theme proposers, and will provide experimental data of the demonstration devices and environmental data during the experiments. 6 of the demonstration payload, as well as as well as 4 cubesats originally planned to ride on the same launch vehicle, are re-flight of those planned for RAISE-3, which failed to reach orbit in October 2022. The launch vehicle was switched from Epsilon-S to Rocket Lab's Electron due to continuous testing problems with the Epsilon-S' 2nd stage motor. The original 8 hitch-hiking cubesats will be launched on another Electron rocket later.
Sun-Synchronous OrbitElectron | LEO-PNT Pathfinder A
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
The European Space Agency (ESA)'s LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing) demonstrator mission will feature a 10-satellite constellation demonstration mission that will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe’s own global navigation system. This launch will lift 2 “Pathfinder A” satellites built by Thales Alenia Space and GMV to a 510 km altitude Low Earth Orbit.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | BlackSky Gen-3 5
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | NorthStar 3
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | BlackSky Gen-3 3
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | 6x HawkEye 360
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
HawkEye 360 is a a space-based civil global intelligence satellite network using radio frequency (RF) technology to help monitor transportation across air, land and sea and assist with emergencies, and to provide civil SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) mission. The constellation of small satellites (named Hawk ) will collect information on specific radio signals worldwide to provide high-precision radio frequency mapping and analytics from Low Earth orbit (LEO).
Low Earth OrbitHASTE | Leidos-5
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
HASTE | DART AE
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
TBD December, 2025
Electron | BlackSky Gen-3 4
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD December, 2025
Electron | Kakushin Rising (JAXA Rideshare)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD March, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
JAXA-manifested rideshare of eight separate spacecraft that includes educational small sats, an ocean monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna that can be packed tightly using origami folding techniques and unfurled to 25 times its size. The satellites were originally planned to launch with RAISE-4 on a Japanese Epsilon-S rocket, but the Epsilon-S was heavily delayed due to test firing failures. The 8 satellites are: * MAGNARO-II * KOSEN-2R * WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II * FSI-SAT2 * OrigamiSat-2 * Mono-Nikko * ARICA-2 * PRELUDE
Sun-Synchronous OrbitElectron | LOXSAT 1
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD March, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
LOXSAT 1 is a demonstration satellite of a complete cryogenic oxygen fluid management system in orbit, developed by Eta Space and sponsored by NASA's Tipping Point program. The system will be integrated on a Rocket Lab Photon-LEO satellite bus and collect critical cryogenic fluid management data in orbit for 9 months, demonstrating capabilities of in-space cryogenic storage and transferal. Eta Space plans to use technology developed for this mission to develop a truly commercial depot intended to serve multiple customers in the future.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | Aspera
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD March, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
Aspera houses an ultraviolet telescope and will examine hot gas in the intergalactic medium, thought to be contributing to the birth of stars and planets. Aspera will be the first NASA astrophysics mission to gather and map these ultraviolet light signatures, potentially unlocking a deeper understanding of the origins of stars, planets, and life in the universe.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | VICTUS HAZE
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
TBD March, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:
VICTUS HAZE will see Rocket Lab design, build, launch, and operate a rendezvous proximity operation (RPO) capable spacecraft. U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC)’s Space Safari’s VICTUS HAZE mission will be an exercise of a realistic threat-response scenario and on-orbit space domain awareness (SDA) demonstration. Once the spacecraft build is complete, Rocket Lab will be entered into a Hot Standby Phase awaiting further direction. Once the exercise begins, Rocket Lab will be given notice to launch the spacecraft into a target orbit. After reaching orbit, the spacecraft will be rapidly commissioned and readied for operations. Rocket Lab will configure a Pioneer class spacecraft bus to meet the unique requirements of the VICTUS HAZE mission. The mission will improve Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) processes and timelines, demonstrating the ability to respond to on-orbit threats on very short timelines and validating techniques for space domain awareness (SDA) and on-orbit characterization. Rocket Lab’s constellation-class production capability and discriminating technical capabilities in the areas of in-space propulsion, precision attitude control, low latency communications, and autonomous operations are key enablers for this mission.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | The Nation God Navigates (iQPS Launch 5)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Nov. 5, 2025, 7:45 p.m.
Electron | Owl New World (StriX Launch 7)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Oct. 14, 2025, 4:33 p.m.
HASTE | JUSTIN
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Oct. 1, 2025, 12:28 a.m.
HASTE | JENNA
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Sept. 23, 2025, midnight
Electron | Live, Laugh, Launch (Calistus A-E)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Aug. 23, 2025, 10:42 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
'Live, Laugh, Launch' is the second of two dedicated missions on Electron for a confidential customer in 2025. This mission deployed 5 satellites to a 655 km circular Earth orbit identified as “Calistus A to E”, identified as most likely for Low Earth Orbit communication satellite constellation operator E-Space.
Sun-Synchronous OrbitElectron | The Harvest Goddess Thrives (iQPS Launch 4)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Aug. 5, 2025, 4:10 a.m.
Electron | Symphony In The Stars (EchoStar Lyra-4)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
June 28, 2025, 7:08 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
'Symphony In The Stars' is the first of two dedicated missions on Electron to deploy a single spacecraft to a 650km circular Earth orbit for a confidential commercial customer. A second dedicated launch on Electron to meet those same mission requirements is scheduled for launch before the end of 2025. The payload has since been identified by USSF as EchoStar's Lyra-4, an EchoStar Lyra Block 1 satellite. It is a 4-satellite constellation that will deliver global Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine (M2M) and other data services through S-band. EchoStar will operate the constellation from its Australian subsidiary, EchoStar Global.
Sun-Synchronous OrbitElectron | Get The Hawk Outta Here (4x HawkEye 360)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
June 26, 2025, 5:28 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
HawkEye 360 is a a space-based civil global intelligence satellite network using radio frequency (RF) technology to help monitor transportation across air, land and sea and assist with emergencies, and to provide civil SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) mission. The constellation of small satellites (named Hawk) will collect information on specific radio signals worldwide to provide high-precision radio frequency mapping and analytics from Low Earth orbit (LEO). 3 of the satellites will comprise HawkEye 360’s Cluster 12 and will operate in a dawn-to-dusk polar orbit, while the 4th is Kestrel-0A, an experimental satellite designed to evaluate emerging capabilities and future technology enhancements.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | The Mountain God Guards (iQPS Launch 3)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
June 11, 2025, 3:31 p.m.
Electron | Full Stream Ahead (BlackSky Gen-3 2)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
June 2, 2025, 11:57 p.m.
Electron | The Sea God Sees (iQPS Launch 2)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
May 17, 2025, 8:17 a.m.
Electron | Finding Hot Wildfires Near You (OroraTech OTC-P1)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
March 26, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
8 satellites for a constellation of satellites developed by Orora Technologies (OroraTech) of Germany, with thermal infrared cameras that can provide 24/7 monitoring of wildfires globally, supporting better and faster wildfire response to protect forests, people, and infrastructure worldwide. The company plans to expand their constellation with up to 100 satellites in total by 2028.
Sun-Synchronous OrbitElectron | High Five (Kinéis 21-25)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
March 18, 2025, 1:31 a.m.
Electron | The Lightning God Reigns (iQPS Launch 1)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
March 15, 2025, midnight
Electron | Fasten Your Space Belts (BlackSky Gen-3 1)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Feb. 18, 2025, 11:17 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The first of five BlackSky Technology missions to deploy its new next-generation BlackSky Gen-3 satellites. The commercial constellation of Gen-3 satellites has the capability to produce imagery with 50-centimeter resolution and host multiple sensors, including in shortwave infrared (SWIR). The improved resolution and enhanced spectral diversity of the Gen-3 satellites will expand BlackSky's ability to provide real-time information to its customers.
Low Earth OrbitElectron | IoT 4 You and Me (Kinéis 16-20)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Feb. 8, 2025, 8:43 p.m.
Electron | Owl The Way Up (StriX Launch 6)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Dec. 21, 2024, 2:17 p.m.
HASTE | Stonehenge
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Dec. 14, 2024, 1 a.m.
Electron | Ice AIS Baby (Kinéis 11-15)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaRocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Nov. 25, 2024, 3:55 a.m.
HASTE | HASTE A La Vista (MACH-TB)
Rocket Lab | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Nov. 24, 2024, 6 a.m.
Electron
The Nation God Navigates (iQPS Launch 5)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New ZealandSynthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.
Ariane 62
Sentinel-1D
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaSentinel-1D carries an advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface as part of the Sentine…
Long March 7A
Unknown Payload
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of ChinaDetails TBD.
LVM-3 (GSLV Mk III)
CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, IndiaCommunications Satellite for the Indian Navy, replacing GSAT-7 for secure real-time links between Indian warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-ba…
Falcon 9
Bandwagon 4 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USADedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.
