Posted: Sat, Mar 9, 2019, 9:02 AM ET (1402 GMT)

Rocket Lab is now targeting the second half of March for its first Electron launch of the year. The company said Wednesday it plans to launch the Radiofrequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration, or R3D2, satellite for DARPA between March 16 and 30 from its New Zealand launch site. The launch was scheduled for late February but delayed because the prime contractor for R3D2, Northrop Grumman, needed additional time to complete verification and validation work for the spacecraft. Rocket Lab has previously stated it plans to carry out 12 launches in 2019, including at least one from a new launch site under construction in Virginia.