After securing a hypersonic missile contract, California-based aerospace company Rocket Lab has launched its 60th Electron rocket to place a new Gen-3 satellite for BlackSky into low Earth orbit.
Dubbed “Fasten Your Space Belts,” a mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, lifted off at 12:17 NZDT on February 19 (23:15 UTC on February 18), deploying the Gen-3 satellite into a 470‑kilometer orbit as part of BlackSky’s Earth-imaging constellation.
Employing a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband separation system, satellite deployment proceeded as planned, following procedures used in previous BlackSky Electron launches.
It’s been a busy month for Rocket Lab. This launch came just ten days after the last Electron mission from the same site, reflecting the company’s push for a more frequent launch schedule. BlackSky has now launched nine satellites with Rocket Lab since 2019, relying on the Electron rocket as its go-to ride to orbit.
In a statement, Rocket Lab’s Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “Electron has proven once again why it is the trusted and dependable rocket of choice for constellation builders like BlackSky: control over when they launch on a rocket that delivers meticulous orbital insertion within their constellation. It’s a service that really showcases Electron’s strength as a market leader in launch, and one we’re looking forward to providing again and again for our next launches for BlackSky.”
“Fasten Your Space Belts” for success
With 60 successful launches under its belt, satnews reported that Electron has become the fastest commercially developed rocket to hit this milestone, outpacing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in that category. As of now, Electron is deemed as the most frequently launched small rocket in the world.
Reusability also remains a focus for the company, though this particular mission didn’t attempt to recover the Electron’s first stage. The plan for this mission is to equip the first stage with parachutes, allowing it to slow down before splashing down in the ocean. As the booster of the Electron rocket, the first stage will then be retrieved for refurbishment and future flights.
Meanwhile, work on the Neutron rocket is moving forward with the next-generation vehicle designed to return its first stage to the launch site and support payloads of up to 13 tonnes. Unlike Electron, which is optimized for small satellite missions, Neutron is being built to handle larger commercial payloads and potential human-rated missions.
As part of this development, Rocket Lab is leveraging advanced 3D printing techniques. Last year, it was announced that the company is using a 90-ton 3D printer to produce some of the largest carbon composite rocket structures ever built. The Electroimpact-designed system, standing 12 meters tall, lays down 100 meters of carbon fiber per minute, significantly accelerating manufacturing timelines.
The custom-built automated fiber placement (AFP) machine is already being used for Neutron components, but its applications extend beyond this project. Electron rocket parts, spacecraft assemblies, and solar panel substrates are also being produced using the same system, further expanding Rocket Lab’s manufacturing capabilities.
3D printing-enabled rocket launch
Beyond Rocket Lab, other space companies also launched rockets, contributing to an active period in the industry. Late in 2024, Chinese space company LandSpace successfully completed the first test launch and landing of its reusable Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 rocket.
Lifting off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the stainless steel rocket climbed to an altitude of 350 meters in 60 seconds before touching down with a landing precision of 2.4 meters and a speed of 0.75 m/s.
Advanced 3D printing technology played a crucial role in its development. Partnering with Bright Laser Technologies (BLT), the space company integrated metal 3D printed components, including igniter mounts and joint elements, which reduced production time and improved efficiency.
Powered by a Tianque-12 methalox engine, the rocket has undergone over 100,000 seconds of ground testing. Plans were in place for a 10-kilometer test flight last year, allowing engineers to validate key systems before the first full launch this year.
Elsewhere, aerospace start-up Relativity Space launched Terran 1, the world’s first 3D printed rocket, from Cape Canaveral. While the rocket failed to reach orbit and crashed into the Atlantic, the mission still marked an important milestone.
Terran 1 became the first methane-fueled rocket in the Western world to cross the Kármán line, successfully passing key stages like Max-Q and main engine cutoff before an issue with the upper stage ended the flight. The first stage performed as expected, demonstrating the rocket’s structural integrity.
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Featured image shows Electron rocket’s launch day preparations. Photo via Rocket Lab.
