Rocket Lab Confirms New Launch Target for ‘It’s Business Time’

Spaceflight to launch smallsats on three upcoming Rocket Lab missions
Spaceflight to launch four smallsats on first commercial mission. Photo Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab called off its initial June 23 launch attempt from Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. The company confirmed that the decision to postpone the Electron rocket launch was due to an issue with a tracking dish on the Chatham Islands and was made just before 16:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST). Spare parts were sent to the Islands to rectify the fault.

The company decided not to make a second attempt on Sunday 24 due to weather and the launch team was stood down. The launch is now targeted for no earlier than 12:30 pm (00:30 UTC) Wednesday 27 June.

The “It’s Business Time” launch window extends until July 6, with daily launch windows running from 12:30 to 16:30 NZST. The mission will be the first commercial flight of the Electron rocket and will loft two satellites for Spire Global, the GeoOptics nanosatellite for Tvak Nanosatellite Systems and NABEO, a drag-sail technology demonstration satellite.