spacetoday.net: Rocket Lab prepares to resume Electron launches

Posted: Sat, Nov 11, 2023, 8:09 AM ET (1309 GMT)
Rocket Lab is preparing to resume Electron launches in late November after completing an investigation into a September launch failure. The company said Wednesday it is targeting no earlier than Nov. 28 for the Electron return to flight, carrying a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS. Rocket Lab's investigation concluded a "largely improbable" combination of events caused an electric arc that shorted out batteries in the rocket's upper stage, depriving it of power. The company will enhance ground tests of the stage and make changes to the structure that houses the batteries to prevent such arcs from happening again. Rocket Lab has two Electron launches planned for the rest of this year and a "completely sold-out manifest" of 22 launches in 2024.