Electron
Dedicated small-satellite orbital launch vehicle powered by 3D-printed Rutherford electric turbopump engines.
Electron is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle designed and built by Rocket Lab. Engineered specifically for the dedicated deployment of small satellites and CubeSats to customized orbital inclinations, Electron features an advanced carbon-composite fuselage and 3D-printed Rutherford engines powered by high-discharge lithium-polymer battery electric turbopumps.
SpaceStats Reliability & Flight Record
Architecture Analysis & Development Story
Engineering DossierHistory & Development
Developed to solve the rideshare bottleneck where small satellites were forced to wait months for secondary piggyback opportunities on large rockets, Electron first launched in May 2017 ('It's a Test') and achieved orbit on its second flight ('Still Testing') in January 2018. Rocket Lab has since established dedicated orbital launch pads in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
Operational Record & Mission Impact
Electron is the second most frequently launched US orbital rocket, conducting missions for NASA, the US Space Force, DARPA, Capella Space, BlackSky, and planetary exploration missions including the NASA CAPSTONE lunar pathfinder probe.
Key Engineering Innovations & Design Highlights
Nine 3D-printed Rutherford engines on the first stage powered by electric motor driven turbopumps.
All-carbon-composite tanks and primary structural skin minimizing dry mass.
Optional Curie / HyperCurie bi-propellant Kick Stage for multi-satellite orbital plane phasing and deep-space trajectory injection.
Parachute recovery system and oceanic splashdown recovery operations for first-stage reuse.
Technical & Propulsion Specifications
Operator: Rocket LabVehicle Dimensions & Mass
- Overall Height
- 18 m
- Body Diameter
- 1.2 m
- Gross Lift-off Mass
- 13 t
- Stages Count
- 2
- Fairing Diameter
- 1.2 m
First Stage Booster
- Main Engines
- 9x Rutherford
- Propellant
- LOX / RP-1
- SL Thrust
- 224 kN
- Vacuum Isp
- 343s
- Dry Mass
- 950 kg
- Recovery Mode
- ParachuteRecovery
Second Stage
- Upper Engine
- 1x Rutherford Vacuum
- LEO Capacity
- 320 kg
- TLI (Lunar)
- 35 kg
- Cost per Launch
- $7,500,000
- LEO Price / kg
- ~$23,438 / kg
Launch Complexes & Spaceports Network
2 Active Launch PadsMilestone & Historic Missions
Key Flight AchievementsCAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System)
Customer: NASA
Lunar pathfinder cubesat injected into a Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) for the Artemis program using Lunar Photon.
High-Resolution Photo Gallery & Media
3 photos & renders of Electron with verified copyright credits
Electron CAPSTONE Lunar Mission Liftoff
Rocket Lab Electron vehicle launching the NASA CAPSTONE lunar pathfinder from Launch Complex 1.
Electron Launch Complex 1 Mahia
Rocket Lab's private orbital launch pad perched on the scenic cliffs of the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.
Rocket Lab Mahia Range & Pad
Launch Complex 1 range tracking and vehicle integration facilities overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceStats Launch Manifest & Database
6 mission records cataloged in database
| Flight / Mission | Orbit | Launch Date | Pad / Location | Booster / Landing | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electron | 6x HawkEye 360 6x HawkEye 360 | LEO | Sep 30, 2026 | Unknown Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |
Electron | BlackSky Gen-3 5 BlackSky Gen-3 5 | LEO | Sep 30, 2026 | Unknown Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |
Electron | LOXSAT 1 LOXSAT 1 | LEO | Aug 31, 2026 | Unknown Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |
Electron | The Grain Goddess Provides (iQPS Launch 7) The Grain Goddess Provides (iQPS Launch 7) | LEO | Aug 31, 2026 | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |
Electron | StriX Launch 11 StriX Launch 11 | SSO | Aug 31, 2026 | Unknown Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |
Electron | The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8) The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8) | LEO | Aug 31, 2026 | Unknown Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand | B1080 ASDS | TBD | Details → |