Electron | Live and Let Fly (NROL-123) launch

Rocket LabLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

Live and Let Fly

Name: Electron | Live and Let Fly (NROL-123)
Start: 2024-03-21T07:25:00Z
Location: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA

Electron · NROL-123

Launched Thu, Mar 21 · 7:25 AM UTC2024-03-21 07:25 UTCRocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA

Reached orbit

Follow Rocket Lab in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+9:08 and released the payload at T+1:00:00.

Worldwide

54th

orbital launch attempt in 2024

Rocket Lab

4th

launch this year

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

277 d 6 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Rocket Lab - 'Live And Let Fly' Launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 7:25 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown2

T−2:007:23 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:027:24 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (2 steps)

T−2:007:23 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:027:24 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent8

T+0:007:25 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:587:25 AMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:107:26 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:257:27 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:287:27 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:327:27 AMStart of the second engine
T+3:357:28 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+6:237:31 AMElectron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.

Second Stage and Payload4

T+9:087:34 AMCut-off of the second engine
T+9:127:34 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+54:208:19 AMThe kick stage conducts an engine burn in orbit.
T+1:00:008:25 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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

Mar 21 · 8:35 AM
Launch success confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 21 · 7:25 AM
Liftoff
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 7:04 AM
Proceeding with launch at 07:25 UTC
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:58 AM
T-0 set to 07:25 UTC, issue still being worked on
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:53 AM
launch window extended
hitura-nobad

Show earlier updates

Mar 21 · 6:37 AM
Hold at T-04:36
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:11 AM
Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 20 · 5:32 PM
Adjusted launch window
hitura-nobad
Mar 19 · 6:13 PM
Updated launch weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 18 · 8:03 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 15 · 9:07 PM
Delayed by 1 day to march 21st
hitura-nobad
Mar 15 · 9:54 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 6:06 PM
Updated launch time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 7 · 3:11 PM
Launch window officially confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 6 · 2:51 PM
Added tentative launch window per marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 21 · 12:42 PM
Edited launch code name for the NRO.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 21 · 12:19 PM
Added launch
hitura-nobad

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

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Rocket LabLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

Live and Let Fly

Electron · NROL-123

Launched Thu, Mar 21 · 7:25 AM UTC2024-03-21 07:25 UTCRocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA

Reached orbit

Follow Rocket Lab in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+9:08 and released the payload at T+1:00:00.

Worldwide

54th

orbital launch attempt in 2024

Rocket Lab

4th

launch this year

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

277 d 6 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Rocket Lab - 'Live And Let Fly' Launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 7:25 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown2

T−2:007:23 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:027:24 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (2 steps)

T−2:007:23 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:027:24 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent8

T+0:007:25 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:587:25 AMVehicle is supersonic
T+1:107:26 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:257:27 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:287:27 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:327:27 AMStart of the second engine
T+3:357:28 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+6:237:31 AMElectron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.

Second Stage and Payload4

T+9:087:34 AMCut-off of the second engine
T+9:127:34 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+54:208:19 AMThe kick stage conducts an engine burn in orbit.
T+1:00:008:25 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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

Mar 21 · 8:35 AM
Launch success confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 21 · 7:25 AM
Liftoff
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 7:04 AM
Proceeding with launch at 07:25 UTC
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:58 AM
T-0 set to 07:25 UTC, issue still being worked on
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:53 AM
launch window extended
hitura-nobad

Show earlier updates

Mar 21 · 6:37 AM
Hold at T-04:36
hitura-nobad
Mar 21 · 6:11 AM
Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 20 · 5:32 PM
Adjusted launch window
hitura-nobad
Mar 19 · 6:13 PM
Updated launch weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 18 · 8:03 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 15 · 9:07 PM
Delayed by 1 day to march 21st
hitura-nobad
Mar 15 · 9:54 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 12 · 6:06 PM
Updated launch time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 7 · 3:11 PM
Launch window officially confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 6 · 2:51 PM
Added tentative launch window per marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 21 · 12:42 PM
Edited launch code name for the NRO.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 21 · 12:19 PM
Added launch
hitura-nobad

Electron

Vehicle history

Height

18m

Diameter

1.2m

To low Earth orbit

300kg

Liftoff thrust

162kN

Next From Wallops Flight Facility

Wallops Flight Facility schedule

NET2026

HASTE | Leidos-4Rocket Lab · Electron · Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USATo be determinedNET 2026 NET2026

HASTE | Leidos-3Rocket Lab · Electron · Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USATo be determinedNET 2026

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

Live and Let Fly

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown2

Ascent8

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

Rocket Lab

Updates

Electron

Never Miss a Launch.

Live and Let Fly

Replay

The Flight Plan

Countdown2

Ascent8

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

Rocket Lab

Updates

Electron

Next From Wallops Flight Facility

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Wallops Flight Facility