10 ESA PNT satellites to work with Galileo and EGNOS constellations, 2 ESA demo satellites for Celeste planned constellation, and 2 Thales Alenia Space / GMV “Pathfinder A” satellites, on Mar 24 from Launch Complex 1, ~39°S, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

The European Space Agency (ESA)’s LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing) demonstrator mission will feature a 10-satellite constellation demonstration mission that will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe’s own global navigation system.

This launch will lift 2 “Pathfinder A” satellites built by Thales Alenia Space and GMV to a 510 km altitude Low Earth Orbit.

The Electron, manufactured by Rocket Lab established in 2006, undertook its inaugural launch on 05/25/2017, is non-reusable and is active.

Electron has 79 successful launches and 4 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 83 launches, currently with 41 pending launches in the pipeline.

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.

CEO: Peter Beck

Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.

Length: 18 m
Diameter: 1.2 m
Launch Mass: 13 T
LEO Capacity: 300 kg
SSO Capacity: 225 kg
Launch Cost: $6,000,000

(Image Credits: )