Electron | iQPS Launch 8

iQPS Launch 8

Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.

Electron

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.

Length

18 m

Diameter

1.2 m

Launch Mass

13 t

LEO Capacity

300 kg

Maiden Flight

2017