RAISE And Shine was Rocket Labs 19th launch of the year, extending the companys new annual launch record set last month following two missions conducted within 48 hours.
Can reusable rockets bring down launch costs enough to meet growing market needs and create wider access to space? Keith J Fernandez investigates.
Rocket Labs Electron rocket deployed the ADRAS-J satellite for Astroscale Japan to conduct an orbital debris inspection demonstration mission.
The vehicle is designed to accommodate payloads of up to 700 kilograms for suborbital tests.
The launch of Electron from the NASA-controlled Wallops Flight Facility also marked the introduction of the agencys autonomous flight termination capability, known as NAFTU.
