Rocket Lab Successfully Carries Dove Pioneer to Orbit
On January 21, 2018 at 1:43 AM UTC, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand and successfully deployed Dove Pioneer into an orbit of 300 x 500 km, 83 degree inclination.
Rocket Lab Electron flight ‘Still Testing’ Lift Off. Image: Rocket Lab.
The Planet team eagerly tracked Rocket Lab’s progress leading up to launch day, and the successful flight elicited cheers and applause as our team watched the live stream from our HQ in San Francisco. Today marks a special milestone, not just for Planet and Rocket Lab, but for the space industry as a whole.
Our Mission Ops team is now tracking Dove Pioneer in orbit and the commissioning process is underway. Many thanks to Rocket Lab for the ride – here’s to many more to come!
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