The mission dubbed 'We Love the Nightlife' will lift off at 11.45am from Māhia in Hawke's Bay. Photo: Supplied / Rocket Lab
Kiwi-founded space company Rocket Lab hopes to be one step closer to a reusable rocket with its 40th Electron launch today.
The mission dubbed 'We Love the Nightlife' will lift off at 11.45am from Māhia in Hawke's Bay.
During what is called a recovery mission, the 'first stage' of the Electron rocket - the largest part - floats back down to sea under a parachute.
After being picked up via a marine recovery vessel, the Rocket Lab team will analyse its performance to see how it feared, and assess whether it could be used again.
Electron on the pad for its launch. Photo: Supplied / Rocket Lab
The company has already completed seven similar recovery missions, but it was hoped this would be one of the final tests.
For the first time, one of nine engines on the rocket will be one that has flown before.
The 3D-printed Rutherford engine previously flew on a mission in May last year.
Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said that was a big step towards reusable Electron rockets.
"The engines we're bringing back from previous recovery missions are performing exceptionally well through requalification and acceptance testing, so we're excited to send one on its second trip to space as one of the final steps before reflying an entire first stage," he said.
If it is successful, Rocket Lab will try to re-fly the reused 'first stage' in the next few months.
While larger rockets have been reused before, this would be the first small orbital rocket ever to be re-flown.