The World's First Private Orbital Spaceport
On January 21, 2018, a rocket named Electron successfully reached orbit from the Mahia Peninsula, making New Zealand the 11th country capable of launching to space. This was a private initiative, not the work of the private company Rocket Lab. The launch site, Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), is the world's first privately owned and operated orbital launch complex. Its remote location on the North Island's east coast is an advantage. Uncluttered airspace and a wide-open ocean provide a vast range of launch angles, from polar to sun-synchronous orbits, without the heavy air and marine traffic that limits many other spaceports.
This geographic isolation is important for the site's primary purpose: high-frequency launches. The complex is licensed to launch a rocket as often as every 72 hours. It contains two separate launch pads, LC-1A and LC-1B, allowing for simultaneous processing of multiple rockets. This setup minimizes turnaround time between missions, positioning LC-1 as one of the most responsive spaceports globally. The complex officially opened on September 26, 2016, and the first orbital launch attempt took place on May 25, 2017. Though that first attempt failed to reach orbit, the successful flight the following year was a spaceflight milestone.
Electron and the Electric Engine
The only rocket launched from LC-1 is the Electron. It is a vehicle designed for the small satellite market, capable of lifting payloads up to 300 kg (661 lb) into low Earth orbit. The rocket stands 18 meters (59 feet) tall and has a diameter of 1.2 meters (3.9 feet). Its main structure is made of a lightweight carbon composite material. The first stage is powered by nine Rutherford engines, and the second stage uses a single vacuum-optimized Rutherford.
The Rutherford engine is a unique piece of technology. It is the world's first 3D-printed, electric-pump-fed orbital rocket engine. Instead of complex and heavy gas generators, the Rutherford's turbopumps are powered by lightweight brushless DC electric motors and lithium-polymer batteries. The main components of the engine, including the injector, pumps, and main propellant valves, can be 3D printed in as little as 24 hours. The engines use liquid oxygen (LOX) and a highly refined kerosene (RP-1) as propellants. Rocket Lab has also experimented with reusing the Electron's first stage, testing a method of catching the descending booster mid-air with a helicopter.