Rocket Lab opens extra launch pad in New Zealand

By on 25 February, 2022

Located at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the new launch pad will enable Rocket Lab to double its launch cadence.

Rocket Lab has commissioned its second orbital launch pad at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, with its first commercial launch scheduled to lift off within days.

This is the company’s third dedicated pad for its Electron rocket, with the other located at Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, USA.

Launch Complex 1 Pad B will support the upcoming launch of an Electron mission for Japanese Earth-imaging company Synspective. Lift-off is scheduled for no earlier than February 28 UTC / March 1 NZT.

“A reliable launch vehicle is only one part of the puzzle to unlocking space access — operating multiple launch sites so we can launch when and where our customers need to is another crucial factor,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck.

More than 50 local construction workers and contractors were involved in the development of Launch Complex 1 Pad B, which includes a 66-tonne launch platform and 7.6-tonne strongback customised to the Electron launch vehicle.

Stay up to date by getting stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Sign up to receive our free weekly Spatial Source newsletter.

You may also like to read:


, , ,


Newsletter

Sign up now to stay up to date about all the news from Spatial Source. You will get a newsletter every week with the latest news.

Interview: Tori Murrant, GIS analyst
Having stumbled across the geospatial sector at university, ...
Testing SouthPAN and commercial GNSS services
UNSW surveying students were challenged to put a range of So...
Here’s what’s in our latest issue!
Learn about the metaverse, mapmaking, 3D scanning, RINEX, hy...
Modern Methods of Construction Roadshow
The events will show how the latest software, tools and tech...
Real-time LiDAR mapping system
The Brumby LiDAR rapidly produces point clouds by removing t...