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Space · launch vehicle

Electron

RL ACTIVE
At a glance
Launches
97
38 pending
Success rate
95.9%
93 ok · 4 failed
Payload to LEO
300 kg
Payload to GTO
—
Manufacturer
Rocket Lab
Status
Active
First flight
25 May 2017
Reusable
No
Height
18 m
Diameter
1.2 m
Launch mass
13 t
Liftoff thrust
162 kN
Stages
3
Launch cost
$6,000,000
Booster landings
7 / 9
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Next flight
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About

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.