Accordingly rocket from small-satellite launch firm Rocket Lab failed to reach orbit minutes after a successful liftoff from new zealand on saturday, the company said, losing its payload of seven small satellites it had intended to carry to space. "An issue was experienced today during Rocket Lab's launch that caused the loss of the vehicle," the company said on social media, adding more information will be shared as available.
"We are deeply sorry to the customers on board Electron," the auckland, New Zealand-based company said. "The issue occurred late in the flight during the 2nd stage burn." It was aiming to send five tiny Earth imaging satellites from Planet Labs, one microsatellite from Canon Electronics, and a cubesat from british company In-Space Missions into a sun-synchronous orbit 310 miles above Earth. The failed mission, the company's 13th payload launch, had been named "Pics Or It Didn't Happen".
"While it's never the outcome that we hope for, the risk of launch failure is one Planet is always prepared for," Planet Labs said in a statement on saturday, adding it looked "forward to flying on the Electron again" in the future. It was aiming to send five tiny Earth imaging satellites from Planet Labs, one microsatellite from Canon Electronics, and a cubesat from british company In-Space Missions into a sun-synchronous orbit 310 miles above Earth. The failed mission, the company's 13th payload launch, had been named "Pics Or It Didn't Happen".
