Electron - DARPA R3D2 - March 28, 2019 (23:27 UTC)

• #100 by rickl on 29 Mar, 2019 00:18
• Congratulations to Rocket Lab and DARPA.  I hope the experimental satellite works.  It looks like an interesting mission.  I can even envision that this antenna technology might be adapted for space telescopes.
  
  
  I've noticed on this and previous launches that Electron seems to wobble a bit on its way up to orbit.  Is that because it's so small and light?
• #101 by Steven Pietrobon on 29 Mar, 2019 03:19
• 25.

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• #102 by catdlr on 29 Mar, 2019 04:21
• Updated link to today's launch
  
  DARPA R3D2 Launch - 03/28/2019
  
  Published on Mar 28, 2019
  
  Lift-off of the R3D2 mission for DARPA occurred at 23:27 UTC on March 28, 2019, from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula
  
  
  
  
• #103 by FutureSpaceTourist on 29 Mar, 2019 05:54
• https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1111465456764968961
  
  

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  Successful Electron launch confirmed with three objects tracked in orbit: 16A (presumed R3D2) in 421 x 438 km x  39.5 deg orbit; 16B (presumed kick stage) in 417 x 438 km x 39.5 deg; 16C (Electron 2nd stage) in 199 x 434 km x 39.5 deg orbit.
• #104 by FutureSpaceTourist on 29 Mar, 2019 06:13
• https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1111444518308470785
  
  

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  Electron's nine Rutherford engines roaring off the pad today. Credit for this beautiful shot goes to our launch team members @VonBraunnabe and @samstoms. #GoElectron!

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• #105 by Steven Pietrobon on 10 Apr, 2019 06:54
• This article revealed the R3D2 payload on 20 November 2018! The article says that DARPA paid $6.5M for this launch.
  
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/20-11-2018/what-lies-inside-rocket-labs-secret-us-military-contracts/
• #106 by TrevorMonty on 25 Apr, 2019 06:16
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  https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-highlights-benefits-of-orbital-atk-acquisition/
  
  While not a formal confirmation this mission is a success, follow extract suggests the antenna deployment has been successful.
  
  
  DARPA has said little about R3D2 after its launch, but Warden’s comments suggested the mission was going well. “This successful demonstration will lend support to developing additional smaller, faster to launch and lower cost capabilities that can optimize the new commercial market for small, inexpensive launch vehicles by both the DOD and commercial users,” she said. “We’re extremely proud of this effort and I want to congratulate the entire team on its success.”