Two rockets at Rocket Lab’s Mahia spaceport awaiting launches

Two rockets are at Rocket Lab’s Mahia spaceport awaiting upcoming launches. The first of those could be this Saturday. Picture by Rocket Lab

The next two launches from Rocket Lab’s Mahia spaceport are good to go.

The latest mission, titled Baby Come Back, is scheduled to lift off from Pad B at Launch Complex 1 no earlier than 11.30am on Saturday.

The mission will carry seven satellites to a sun synchronous orbit for three customers and will include a marine recovery of Electron’s first stage.

Rocket Lab’s recovery team will retrieve Electron using a customised vessel and transport the stage back to its production complex for analysis. Data from the recovered stage will inform Rocket Lab’s ongoing recovery and reuse programme.

While Mahia escaped the wrath of Cyclone Gabrielle in February, sustained rain at the end of last month was enough to result in slips hampering access to the area.

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On the main road into Māhia, two slips at Black’s Beach have reduced a section of road to single lane only, while Māhia East Coast Road — the main road across Māhia — was hit by a series of slips which reduced traffic to single lane, only with only light traffic permitted.

“Fortunately the rockets were transported to LC-1 prior to the slips,” Rocket Lab communication director Morgan Bailey said.

“We have the rocket for the mission after this one, flight 40, at LC-1 already, too.

“We’ll be working closely with the council and (roading contractors) QRS in the coming weeks as they work to address any slips that could present access issues for us in future.”