Rocket Lab is launching its ninth Electron rocket at present, with the launch set for 00:41 UTC (8:41 PM ET/5:41 PM PT) [Update: They’re now focusing on 01:22 UTC (9:22 PM ET/6:22 PM PT)]. The mission, referred to as “As The Crow Flies,” will likely be taking off from the corporate’s LC-1 launchpad in New Zealand, carrying a payload from Astro Digital to orbit.
The launch was really speculated to take a special spacecraft as much as low Earth Orbit, however the payload was swapped late final month – an uncommon transfer for a rocket launch, and one which Rocket Lab is utilizing to exhibit the flexibleness of its business service mannequin. Rocket Lab’s different buyer had a delay, and Astro Digital was able to ship up certainly one of its ‘Corvus’ imaging satellites, so it bought to maneuver up the timing of its launch in consequence.
Rocket Lab is at the moment on monitor to launch as deliberate, and the launch stream for the mission will likely be stay above beginning at round 20 minutes out from the T-Zero launch window.
