Rocket Lab experiences first Electron mission failure since original flight test in 2017

Rocket Lab ended its streak of 11 successful Electron rocket launches in a row on Saturday, July 4. The 13th flight of Electron resulted in a loss of vehicle about 10 minutes after what appeared to be a successful launch.

“The issue occurred approximately four minutes into the flight on July 4, 2020, and resulted in the safe loss of the vehicle. As a result, the payloads onboard Electron were not deployed to orbit,” said Rocket Lab. ‘Electron remained within the predicted launch corridors and caused no harm to personnel or the launch site.”

Rocket Lab’s “Pics Or It Didn’t Happen” ride-sharing mission, named for its Earth imaging satellite payload, carried and lost hardware from Canon, Planet, and British Faraday-1. Canon’s satellite was designed to test its in-house Earth imaging system; the two other customers were deploying data collecting research satellites.

The small satellite launch company says it is “working closely with the FAA to investigate the anomaly and identify its root cause to correct the issue” before future launches.

An issue was experienced today during Rocket Lab's launch that caused the loss of the vehicle. We are deeply sorry to the customers on board Electron. The issue occurred late in the flight during the 2nd stage burn. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) July 4, 2020

We lost the flight late into the mission. I am incredibly sorry that we failed to deliver our customers satellites today. Rest assured we will find the issue, correct it and be back on the pad soon.

— Peter Beck (@Peter_J_Beck) July 4, 2020

The mission was also intended to demonstrate Rocket Lab’s increasingly fast capability of launching satellites on its rockets with minimal time between flights.

The 13th flight of Electron occurred just three weeks after the prior mission. Factors like refurbishing the launchpad at the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand would soon be eliminated with the construction of a second launch complex on-site.

A brief statement about today's mission from our founder and CEO, Peter Beck. pic.twitter.com/QUShtzp7J0

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) July 5, 2020

Rocket Lab is also finalizing Launch Complex 2, its U.S. launch site at Wallops Island in Virginia. The first launch from the U.S. for Rocket Lab was expected to occur in August.

The unexpected mission failure and loss of vehicle will necessarily pause Rocket Lab launches, however, while the cause of the issue is being investigated and corrected.

We are quickly making progress into the anomaly and the team is chasing it down with gusto. It has been incredibly humbling to see so much support and kind words. Thank you!

— Peter Beck (@Peter_J_Beck) July 6, 2020

“Rocket Lab currently has more than eight Electron vehicles in production, ready for a rapid return to flight as soon as investigations are complete and any required corrective actions are in place,” the company said in a statement.

The mission failure marks the first loss of vehicle for Rocket Lab since its very first flight test three years ago.