Electron | Beginning Of The Swarm (ACS3 & NeonSat-1) launch

Rocket LabLaunch SuccessfulDedicated Rideshare

Beginning Of The Swarm

Name: Electron | Beginning Of The Swarm (ACS3 & NeonSat-1)
Start: 2024-04-23T22:32:00Z
Location: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Electron · ACS3 & NeonSat-1

Launched Tue, Apr 23 · 10:32 PM UTC2024-04-23 22:32 UTCRocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Reached orbit

Follow Rocket Lab in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+9:11 and released the payload at T+50:06.

Worldwide

78th

orbital launch attempt in 2024

Rocket Lab

5th

launch this year

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B

4th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

42 d 7 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Rocket Lab - 'Beginning Of The Swarm' Launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:32 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown2

T−2:0010:30 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:0210:31 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (2 steps)

T−2:0010:30 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:0210:31 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent8

T+0:0010:32 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:5510:32 PMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:0710:33 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2410:34 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2810:34 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3110:34 PMStart of the second engine
T+3:0710:35 PMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+6:2110:38 PMElectron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.

Second Stage and Payload6

T+9:1110:41 PMCut-off of the second engine
T+9:1510:41 PMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+47:0911:19 PMStart of the kick stage engine
T+49:1611:21 PMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+50:0611:22 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+1:45:3612:17 AMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.

Mission

NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) is a technology demonstration mission tasked with deploying a composite boom solar sail.

NeonSat-1 is a high-resolution optical satellite by South Korea's KAIST that will be deployed as a technology demonstration for a planned future Earth observation constellation.

Launch Provider

Rocket Lab

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2006 · CEO Peter Beck

Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.

Launches

Successful

96%

Landings

of 9

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesElectron

All Rocket Lab launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Apr 24 · 12:29 PM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 24 · 12:31 AM
Both payloads have been deployed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:32 PM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:23 PM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:06 PM
Holding at T-12 minutes for ground systems issue.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Apr 23 · 9:48 PM
Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started
Launch Library 2
Apr 23 · 5:50 PM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 19 · 7:12 AM
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 18 · 11:26 PM
Reverted back to April 23 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 17 · 2:48 AM
NET April 24.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 4 · 7:13 AM
Edited launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 2 · 1:27 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 30 · 2:09 PM
Added tentative launch date and time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 8:22 AM
NET Q1 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin
Aug 10 · 8:55 AM
NET early 2023
Nosu
Oct 7 · 3:48 PM
Added launch, currently NET mid-2022.
spacevogel

Electron

Vehicle history

Height

18m

Diameter

1.2m

To low Earth orbit

300kg

Liftoff thrust

162kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

[data-page-skeleton]{display:none}body{display:flex;flex-direction:column}body>footer{order:2}body>main{padding-bottom:0}body:has(>div[hidden][id^="S:"]>[data-data-unavailable]) header[data-site-header]{background:var(--canvas);border-color:var(--rule);color:var(--ink)}body:has(>div[hidden][id^="S:"]>[data-data-unavailable]) [data-header-scrim]{display:none}body>div[hidden][id^="S:"]>[data-data-unavailable]{max-width:calc(var(--container-content) + 2 * var(--s-5));padding:var(--s-9) var(--s-5) 0}body>div[hidden][id^="S:"]:last-of-type{padding-bottom:var(--s-9)}body:has(>div[id^="S:"] [data-app-promo])>div[hidden][id^="S:"]:last-of-type{padding-bottom:0}@layer base{body>div[hidden][id^="S:"]{display:block!important;order:1}}

Rocket LabLaunch SuccessfulDedicated Rideshare

Beginning Of The Swarm

Electron · ACS3 & NeonSat-1

Launched Tue, Apr 23 · 10:32 PM UTC2024-04-23 22:32 UTCRocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Reached orbit

Follow Rocket Lab in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+9:11 and released the payload at T+50:06.

Worldwide

78th

orbital launch attempt in 2024

Rocket Lab

5th

launch this year

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B

4th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

42 d 7 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Rocket Lab - 'Beginning Of The Swarm' Launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:32 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown2

T−2:0010:30 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:0210:31 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (2 steps)

T−2:0010:30 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:0210:31 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent8

T+0:0010:32 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:5510:32 PMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:0710:33 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2410:34 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2810:34 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3110:34 PMStart of the second engine
T+3:0710:35 PMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+6:2110:38 PMElectron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.

Second Stage and Payload6

T+9:1110:41 PMCut-off of the second engine
T+9:1510:41 PMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+47:0911:19 PMStart of the kick stage engine
T+49:1611:21 PMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+50:0611:22 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+1:45:3612:17 AMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.

Mission

NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) is a technology demonstration mission tasked with deploying a composite boom solar sail.

NeonSat-1 is a high-resolution optical satellite by South Korea's KAIST that will be deployed as a technology demonstration for a planned future Earth observation constellation.

Launch Provider

Rocket Lab

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2006 · CEO Peter Beck

Launches

Successful

96%

Landings

of 9

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesElectron

All Rocket Lab launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Apr 24 · 12:29 PM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 24 · 12:31 AM
Both payloads have been deployed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:32 PM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:23 PM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 23 · 10:06 PM
Holding at T-12 minutes for ground systems issue.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Apr 23 · 9:48 PM
Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started
Launch Library 2
Apr 23 · 5:50 PM
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 19 · 7:12 AM
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 18 · 11:26 PM
Reverted back to April 23 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 17 · 2:48 AM
NET April 24.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 4 · 7:13 AM
Edited launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 2 · 1:27 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 30 · 2:09 PM
Added tentative launch date and time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 8:22 AM
NET Q1 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin
Aug 10 · 8:55 AM
NET early 2023
Nosu
Oct 7 · 3:48 PM
Added launch, currently NET mid-2022.
spacevogel

Electron

Vehicle history

Height

18m

Diameter

1.2m

To low Earth orbit

300kg

Liftoff thrust

162kN

Next From Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 schedule

Nov2Mon

Electron | The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9)

The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9)Rocket Lab · Electron · Unknown Pad, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New ZealandLow Earth OrbitTo be confirmed8:45 AM UTC Nov10Tue

Electron | The Mountain God Rises (iQPS Launch 10)

The Mountain God Rises (iQPS Launch 10)Rocket Lab · Electron · Unknown Pad, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New ZealandLow Earth OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Beginning Of The Swarm

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown2

Ascent8

Second Stage and Payload6

Mission

Rocket Lab

Updates

Electron

Never Miss a Launch.

Beginning Of The Swarm

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown2

Ascent8

Second Stage and Payload6

Mission

Rocket Lab

Updates

Electron

Next From Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1