Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1
Electron |
LC-1B launch history | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Launches | 20 |
First launch | 28 February 2022 |
Last launch | 20 June 2024 |
Associated rockets | Electron |
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 (also known as Mahia Launch Complex or Spaceport) is a commercial
Location
The spaceport is located close to
Description
Launch Complex 1 features a 50-tonne (49-long-ton; 55-short-ton) launch platform and tower, a hangar for the Electron rockets, and storage tanks for liquid oxygen and kerosene.[4] During the test phase of launch operations, which began in May 2017,[2][5] the exclusion zone was expected to be an eight-kilometre (five-mile) radius from the pad that was predicted to reduce in size once the site became commercially operational.[6]
History
Site options
Rocket Lab announced on 1 July 2015 that it had selected
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Rocket_Lab_Launch_Complex_1_survey_image.jpg/220px-Rocket_Lab_Launch_Complex_1_survey_image.jpg)
The
Decision for Mahia
On 23 November 2015, Rocket Lab stated that the Māhia Peninsula site would be the priority launch facility because of delays in obtaining resource consents for developing at Kaitorete Spit.[11]
While certain authorisations had been obtained for Kaitorete, such as stormwater and air discharge permits from Environment Canterbury, a coastal permit for occupation of the area, and a Department of Conservation permit, the Christchurch City Council had not consented to the development due to an incomplete Cultural Impact Assessment, resulting in no action under Sections 95 and 104 of the Resource Management Act 1991.[12] The company said that efforts would continue to gain consent for a launch pad on Kaitorete Spit due to its logistical superiority and the foreseen need for additional facilities, but that the Mahia site offered superior launch corridor and flight rate opportunities because of its geographical location and relatively sparse air traffic. A license was granted for the Mahia site with a maximum launch rate of once every 72 hours over a period of 30 years, while the Kaitorete site would only have been licensed to launch once per month.[12][13]
The company broke ground at Mahia in December 2015, and by June 2016 most of the infrastructure work had been completed, including upgrades to roads and internet services, and work was progressing on the electrical, mechanical and communications infrastructure.[10] Rocket Lab signed an agreement with air traffic service provider Airways New Zealand in early September 2016 to develop "special use airspace."[14]
The Māhia Peninsula site, named Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, was officially opened on 26 September 2016 (
Launch history
Pad A
On Pad A or LC-1A (at 39°15′41″S 177°51′55″E / 39.261515237910196°S 177.86521705520965°E) Rocket Lab carried out the first test flight of its Electron rocket, named "It's a Test", on 25 May 2017 at 04:20
The second launch from the
Pad B
On 19 December 2019, Rocket Lab announced that they had begun construction on a second pad at LC-1, known as LC-1B (at 39°15′38″S 177°51′55″E / 39.2605032684272°S 177.8653779163029°E) to meet increased launch rates.[20] As of April 2020, the construction was expected to be completed by the end of 2020.[21][needs update] It was used for the first time to launch the mission "The Owl's Night Continues" for Synspective on 28 February 2022.[22]
See also
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, a launch complex in the East Coast of USA.
Notes
- ^ Summer time is active from the last Sunday in September until the first Sunday in April.
References
- ^ Payload User's Guide (PDF). 6.2. Rocket Lab. August 2018. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ a b c Clark, Stephen (25 May 2017). "Maiden flight of Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher reaches space". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Rocket mission soars from New Zealand". BBC News. 25 May 2017.
- ^ Masunaga, Samantha (26 September 2016). "Rocket Lab finishes launch complex in New Zealand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Completes Major Technical Milestone Ahead of Test Launches". Rocket Lab. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ a b White, Victoria (27 September 2016). "Rocket launch site officially opened". Hawke's Bay Today via New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (1 July 2015). "Rocket Lab Selects New Zealand Launch Site". SpaceNews. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Wairoa - Gateway to the Galaxy". The Gisborne Herald. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b Lewis, Suzi (14 October 2015). "Rocket Lab planning all go at Mahia". Wairoa Star via The Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b White, Victoria (28 June 2016). "All set for lift off on Māhia Peninsula". Hawke's Bay Today via New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b Gregory, Debbie; Ashton, Andrew (24 November 2015). "Rocket Lab chooses Mahia for space launches". The Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b Van Beynen, Martin (22 November 2015). "Canty's Birdlings Flat on the back burner for Rocket Lab launch". Stuff. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ Cofield, Calla (26 September 2016). "Rocket Lab Opens Private Orbital Launch Site in New Zealand". Space.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ McNicol, Hamish (9 September 2016). "Airways hopes Rocket Lab launch will be 'first of many'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ Nowakowski, Tomasz (30 September 2016). "World's first private orbital launch complex completed in New Zealand". Spaceflight Insider. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ Etherington, Darrell (14 May 2017). "Rocket Lab's test launch window for its private orbital complex begins May 21". TechCrunch. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Masunaga, Samantha (25 May 2017). "Rocket Lab's Electron rocket reaches space, but not orbit, in first test flight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Holly (21 January 2018). "Blast off! Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (21 January 2018). "Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (18 December 2019). "Rocket Lab to build second launch pad in New Zealand". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Atkinson, Ian (29 April 2020). "Rocket Lab rolls out first Electron at LC-2 ahead of Q3 2020 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Your pad or mine? Introducing Launch Complex 1 Pad B: officially complete and ready for launch next week for our friends at @synspective". Twitter. Retrieved 24 February 2022.