New Zealand hosts first private space launch

U.S. company Rocket Lab has launched a rocket from New Zealand,
the worldÕs first from a private facility, showing it is possible to
provide frequent, affordable launch opportunities to low Earth orbit

17m

ELECTRON ROCKET

Payload

Carbon composite fairing

Nine Rutherford engines

Invercargill

COMPARISON

SLS (NASA)

Falcon Heavy (SpaceX)

Electron

Whangarei

Auckland

NORTH ISLAND

Napier

250km 155 miles

NEW ZEALAND

SOUTH ISLAND

Wellington

Christchurch

5km 3 miles

MAHIA

PENINSULA

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

Remote location allows wide range of orbital inclinations, and disrupts less regular air traffic

FAA-compliant site can launch 120 rockets per year

Diameter: 1.2m

Lift-off mass: 13 tonnes

Payload mass: 150kg

Orbit: 500km

Sources: Rocket Lab, Twitter, wire agencies