spacetoday.net: Electron launches Japanese SAR satellite

Posted: Sun, Mar 6, 2022, 10:57 AM ET (1557 GMT)
Rocket Lab launched a Japanese radar imaging satellite on an Electron as it selected a site to build its Neutron rocket. The Electron lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 3:37 pm EST (2037 GMT) Monday and deployed its payload, the StriX Beta satellite for Japanese company Synspective, nearly an hour later. The launch was the first from a second pad at the site, allowing the company to support a higher launch rate. Rocket Lab separately announced Monday it selected a site near Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to build the factory for its Neutron rocket, which will launch from Wallops. The Virginia state government is providing up to $45 million to fund construction of the factory and launch site infrastructure. The first Neutron rocket is scheduled to launch in 2024. Rocket Lab reported a 77% increase in revenues in 2021 to $62.2 million, but a net loss of $117.8 million.