Live Raketenstart: Rocket Lab startet mit Electron einen Satellit zur Erdbeobachtung | auf Deutsch

Video from the channel SENKRECHTSTARTER about Electron, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 47:46. Language: German. Video type: Livestream.

The German channel Senkrechtstarter follows live, with its own commentary in German, Rocket Lab's official broadcast of the 31st flight of the Electron launcher from Launch Complex-1B in New Zealand. The payload is a General Atomics satellite carrying an instrument of the Argos system, of French origin and bearing the CNES insignia. Argos does not photograph the Earth: it relays data from ocean buoys and wildlife-tracking tags. The target is a sun-synchronous orbit of about 98 degrees inclination. During the wait, the commentator explains why launching from New Zealand does not penalise near-polar orbits. He also describes the Electron: a two-stage rocket built mostly from carbon fibre, with Rutherford engines whose pumps are electric and battery-powered, nine on the first stage and one vacuum-optimised one on the second. He also devotes several digressions to the future reusable launcher Neutron.

After propellant loading is completed and the water system under the launch pad is activated, the rocket lifts off and goes through the phase of maximum aerodynamic pressure. Around two and a half minutes in, the first stage shuts down and separates. Its recovery is not attempted on this mission. The second-stage engine ignition, the fairing jettison and the in-flight battery swap are seen, in which the second stage drops spent packs so as not to keep accelerating useless mass. The second stage then shuts down and the Photon transfer stage continues on with the satellite.

The broadcast confirms a nominal, highly elliptical transfer orbit. The commentator explains that the Photon stage was to fire its engine about 45 minutes later, at its highest point, to circularise the planned sun-synchronous orbit. That manoeuvre no longer appears in the live feed. According to the commentator, this was Rocket Lab's eighth launch of the year, a record for the company.