[TECH]:: Rocket Lab "Electron" launcher reaches orbit at 2nd attempt.

[RussellMc]

I had my doubts.
Now I'm highly impressed.
Launched from Mahia peninsular in NZ.

Full flight video here.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business-video/news/video.cfm?c_id=&gal_cid=&gallery_id=187610

Longer (30m) video with 18m prelaunch material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1088&v=eg5234BOED8

Rocket looked less than fully stable out of gantry and for first few
seconds thereafter BUT it may have been the "sound modulated" camera mount.
Interesting smoke swirl just after Qbarmax. Nobody commented.

https://www.wired.com/story/rocket-lab-still-testing/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/100757521/rocket-lab-launches-electron-test-rocket-from-mhia-peninsula-hawkes-bay




Russell