Rocket Lab spokeswoman Morgan Bailey said the matter was between Swarm and the FCC, and had not caused any delay to preparations for Rocket Lab's next launch, which is tipped to take place in April.
Rocket Lab, founded by Kiwi Peter Beck, was still finalising the payload for what will be its first commercial launch but would not include any satellites on it that did not have the right regulatory approvals, Bailey said.Rocket Lab had yet to confirm the launch window for its next flight, but the Electron would be transported to its launch site on the Māhia Peninsula in the next few weeks, she said.
It's Business Time at Rocket LabPosted on 13 March 2018Huntington Beach, California. March 13, 2018: US orbital launch provider Rocket Lab has today confirmed its next launch will be the companys first fully commercial flight. Two Lemur-2 cubesats for launch customer Spire Global will be on board the upcoming launch, with the full manifest to be confirmed in coming weeks.The flights name was put to a vote on social media, with Its Business Time coming out as a clear fan favourite and a continuation of companys previous flight names, Its a Test and Still Testing. Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck says Its Business Time highlights Rocket Labs agile approach to responsive space. The launch has been manifested weeks out from launch, rather than the many months or years it can typically take under existing launch models.We came at the challenge of opening access to space from a new perspective. Building to tail numbers and tailoring a vehicle to the payload is a rigid and slow way of getting satellites on orbit. As the satellite industry continues to innovate at a break-neck pace and the demand for orbital infrastructure grows, were there with a production line of Electron vehicles ready to go and a private launch site licensed for flight every 72 hours. Launch will no longer be the bottleneck that slows innovation in space, he says. We always set out to test a launch vehicle that was as close to production-ready as possible. To complete a test program so quickly and be flying commercial customers is a great feeling. Its business time, Mr Beck adds.Rocket Labs third Electron vehicle will be shipped to Launch Complex 1 on New Zealands Māhia Peninsula in coming weeks, where final checkouts will be completed ahead of the Its Business Time launch.This year Rocket Lab is increasing its launch cadence and scaling up production of the Electron launch vehicle to meet a growing manifest. The company aims to produce 100 Rutherford engines in 2018 from its three-acre headquarters and production facility in Huntington Beach, California. More than 30 engines have already been completed and are undergoing integration onto Electron vehicles.Rocket Labs first test launch, Its a Test, was completed in May 2017, with the second test, Still Testing, taking place in January 2018. This flight successfully reached orbit, deployed commercial customer payloads for Planet and Spire Global and circularized an orbit using a previously unannounced kick stage.For real-time updates in the lead up to Its Business Time, follow Rocket Lab on Twitter @RocketLab
So I decided my first tweet should share one of my favorite sights - a brand new #Electron being delivered to Launch Complex 1. #ItsBusinessTime is coming soon.
Getting ready for #ItsBusinessTime
Launch window to be confirmed soon!
QuoteGetting ready for #ItsBusinessTimehttps://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/978842658054524929 (photo attached)QuoteLaunch window to be confirmed soon!https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/978844128468439041
Rocket Lab can achieve an unprecedented launch frequency thanks to a vertically integrated vehicle manufacturing process that enables Rocket Lab to roll an Electron vehicle off the production line every week. To meet a burgeoning 2018/19 launch manifest, Rocket Lab has rapidly scaled production of the Electron launch vehicle across its three-acre headquarters and production facility in Huntington Beach, California. The company will produce 100 3D printed Rutherford engines this year to support a monthly launch cadence by the end of 2018.
Vehicle checks almost complete, Team is really getting good at this now!
Its Business Time on the pad. Wet dress in the coming days.
As a Flight of the Conchords Fan, I never thought I'd see something named after them sent into space. "Two minutes in heaven is better than one minute in heaven" -FOTC "It's Business Time"
Apparently Rocket Labs had some issues today while fuelling the rocket for wet dress rehearsal. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12033191
