Rocket Lab is poised to make a swift recovery following the failure of its Electron rocket launch last month. The California-based company is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the failure, which resulted in the loss of a commercial Earth-observing satellite. However, despite this setback, Rocket Lab is confident that Electron will be back in action soon.
In an update released on Wednesday (Oct. 25), Rocket Lab stated, “The full review is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, with Rocket Lab currently anticipating a return to flight later this quarter with corrective measures in place.”
The incident occurred roughly 2.5 minutes into the mission on Sept. 19, immediately after the second-stage engine of the Electron rocket was activated. The rocket’s first stage functioned normally during the flight, according to Rocket Lab representatives.
Both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for granting launch licenses for American rockets, and the National Transportation Safety Board are actively involved in the investigation. Rocket Lab has received a vote of confidence from the FAA, as the agency has confirmed that the company’s launch license remains valid.
Despite this setback, Rocket Lab’s track record has been impressive. Before the failed Sept. 19 launch, known as “We Will Never Desert You,” Electron had successfully completed 20 consecutive missions. Over its lifetime, the 59-foot-tall rocket has completed 37 successful flights, delivering a total of 171 satellites into orbit.
This recent failure follows a previous incident in May 2021. Prior to the mishap, Rocket Lab had successfully launched two satellites for the company Capella Space, based in San Francisco, earlier this year.
