Watch RocketLab's Electron rocket launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia

Watch RocketLab’s Electron rocket launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia

The first launch of an Electron rocket out of the USA took place out of NASA’s Wallops Island, Virginia facility at about 6 p.m. ET on January twenty fourth. The launch was initially scheduled for Monday night time however was canceled as a consequence of climate.

The first Electron launch from the United States Tuesday was enabled by NASA’s work in growing the NASA Autonomous Flight Termination Unit (NAFTU). NASA believes that NAFTU is a essential piece of flight security know-how required for this mission. 

The launch Tuesday was the first-ever flight using the NAFTU flight security system.

“In taking NAFTU throughout the end line, NASA has delivered an autonomous flight termination system like no different in operation at the moment filling a essential hole in modernizing our nation’s launch ranges,” stated David L. Pierce, Wallops Flight Facility director in a press release. “We’re proud to have made this and future U.S. Rocket Lab Electron launches potential with our game-changing flight security know-how.”

Electron is a rocket kind made by New Zealand-based Rocket Lab. The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. 

The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360, NASA stated.

You can view the total launch video by way of RocketLab’s website or RocketLab’s YouTube channel.Â