spacetoday.net: Rocket Lab set for first launch

Rocket Lab set for first launch

Posted: Sun, May 21, 2017, 10:04 AM ET (1404 GMT)
Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch its first Electron small rocket this week, although weather has already postponed the first launch attempt by a day. The company's Electron rocket was scheduled to launch at the beginnning of a ten-day window late May 21 (EDT), but the company announced early May 21 that high winds prevented the rollout of the rocket to the launch pad, delaying the launch by a day. Electron is a vehicle designed to launch small satellites weighing up to 150 kilograms into low Earth orbit. This launch, dubbed "It's a Test," is the first of three test launches planned before beginning commercial missions.