Payload separation success
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Historical mission record
This page records Electron | Wise One Looks Ahead (NROL-162) and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.
Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.
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What changed?
Status reported by the mission data provider.
Mission
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
- Launch vehicle
- Electron
- Mission type
- Government/Top Secret
- Destination orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
- Launch pad
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Recovery
- Expended, Expended during its first flight.
The vehicle
Published configuration and flight history.

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
- 80
- First flight
- 2017-05-25

28
- Recovery
- South Pacific
- Landing method
- Expended
Recorded timing
This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.
Target ·
The target marker shows its position within the published window. The schedule may change before launch.
Launch site & orbit
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Launch site & orbit
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Understand this orbit
Coverage & sources
Links supplied by the mission data provider.
Coverage and times may change.
Mission coverage
Rocket Lab 'Wise One Looks Ahead' Launch ↗Further reading
Launch Library ↗Explore on iPhone
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