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Electron | Aspera
Rocket LabTo Be Determined

Aspera

Electron

January 29, 2027 · time pending
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Latest published target

January 29, 2027 · time to be confirmed. An exact time has not been published.

Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.

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NET January 29.

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NET late 2026.

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NET August 15.

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Time to target
Target pending

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LAUNCH SITERocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Mission

Aspera houses an ultraviolet telescope and will examine hot gas in the intergalactic medium, thought to be contributing to the birth of stars and planets. Aspera will be the first NASA astrophysics mission to gather and map these ultraviolet light signatures, potentially unlocking a deeper understanding of the origins of stars, planets, and life in the universe.

Launch vehicle
Electron
Mission type
Astrophysics
Destination orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Launch pad
Unknown Pad
Provider
Rocket Lab

The vehicle

Published configuration and flight history.

Electron
Launch vehicle

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.

Height
18 m
Diameter
1.2 m
Stages
3
Recorded launches
92
First flight
2017-05-25

Launch window

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Launch site & orbit

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

The mission in perspective

Launch site & orbit

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NASA Blue Marble map of Earth's continents and oceans
Representative orbit · accelerated illustrationNo live tracking or simulated ascent. NASA Blue Marble.
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Coverage & sources

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Mission coverage

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Further reading

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