Electron is Rocket Lab's operational two-stage (optionally three-stage) small-satellite launch vehicle, built from carbon composite and powered by electric pump-fed Rutherford engines.
Electron
Electron is Rocket Lab's operational two-stage (optionally three-stage) small-satellite launch vehicle, built from carbon composite and powered by electric pump-fed Rutherford engines.
Description
Electron is an expendable, two-stage orbital launch vehicle developed and operated by Rocket Lab, designed to deliver small satellites to LEO and SSO on dedicated, frequent, low-cost missions. Its airframe is constructed almost entirely from carbon composite material, and it is powered by Rocket Lab's proprietary Rutherford engines, which use an electric pump-feed cycle burning RP-1/LOX propellant; the first stage carries nine Rutherford engines while the second stage uses a single vacuum-optimized variant, with an optional Curie-powered kick stage for precise orbital insertion. First launched on 25 May 2017, Electron has become the third most-launched small-lift rocket in history, flying missions for commercial, civil, and government customers including NASA and the U.S. Space Force. Rocket Lab has also experimented with first-stage recovery via parachute-assisted ocean splashdown and mid-air helicopter capture attempts to explore reusability. As of mid-2026, Electron has completed roughly 91 total flights (including suborbital HASTE missions), with approximately 87 successful orbital missions and a success rate near 95.6%.
Specifications
| Height | 18 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.2 m |
| Mass | 13.0 t |
| Stages | 2 (plus optional Curie kick stage) |
| First stage engines | 9x Rutherford (electric pump-fed, RP-1/LOX) |
| First stage thrust | 224.3 kN sea level / 234 kN vacuum |
| Second stage engine | 1x Rutherford (vacuum-optimized) |
| Payload to LEO | 225-300 kg |
| Payload to SSO | 150-200 kg |
| Airframe material | Carbon composite |
| Recovery | First-stage ocean splashdown recovery tested; mid-air helicopter capture attempted and later discontinued |
| Flight heritage (mid-2026) | ~91 total launches (incl. 9 suborbital HASTE missions), ~87 successful orbital missions, ~95.6% success rate; first flight 25 May 2017 |