In pictures: Rocket Lab lights up Hawke's Bay with latest night flight

Rocket Lab's successful launch was clearly visible from the viewing platform in Napier. Photo / Andrew Caldwell

Rocket Lab's successful night launch lit up Hawke's Bay skies, and even shook a few houses, as a clear and calm night gave the region a viewing treat.

The Owl's Night Begins mission, its 17th, launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia at 10.09pm on Tuesday.

The mission successfully deployed Synspective's StriX-α to a 500km circular orbit – bringing the total number of payloads deployed by Rocket Lab to 96.

Rocket Lab's successful launch of its 17th mission. Photo / Connull Lang

Residents throughout Hawke's Bay photographed the launch, with snaps also being taken of it as far south as Invercargill as it tracked south across NZ.

Graham Palmer, of the Maraekakaho Dark Sky Project, was waiting to watch the launch from his home observatory.

"It was spectacular to say the least," he said.

"The column of flame from the exhaust was very easy to see as the first stage carried it through the first part of the flight.

"The next noticeable thing was the delayed roar of the first-stage engines reaching our ears."

He said it was the first time he had heard one of the launches.

"I heard more of a rumble than a bang. A bit like distant thunder.

"It was a very calm, silent evening which made it stand out."

Residents throughout Hawke's Bay photographed the launch, including in Napier. Photo / Mauro Pacella

Rocket enthusiast and rookie rocketeer Tamatea Schofield said he saw it clearly from his home in Waimate, about 45km south of Timaru, as there "wasn't a cloud in the sky".

"We were able to see it darting through the upper atmosphere, behind it we observed the twilight phenomenon, where the exhaust forms a massive vapour trail across the night sky."

The StriX-α satellite will demonstrate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology developed by Synspective to be able to image millimetre-level changes to the Earth's surface from space, independent of weather conditions on Earth and at any time of the day or night.

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck congratulated the Synspective team on the successful deployment of their first satellite.

"We're proud to be able to continue to provide dedicated launch opportunities for small satellite customers like Synspective," he said.

"Electron provides truly tailored access to space, enabling our customers to choose exactly when they launch and under their specific mission parameters."

The Owl's Night Begins mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia at 10.09pm on Monday. Photo / Rocket Lab

Synspective founder Motoyuki Ara said with the launch of StriX-α, Synspective will be able to demonstrate its satellite capabilities and data-processing technology.

"This is the first step towards our constellation of 30 satellites and along with the development of our solutions, a full-scale business expansion will begin," he said.

"Starting with this success, we will move tangibly closer towards the attainment of an advanced world, expanding people's understanding and learning capabilities with new data and technologies."

Electron on its way to orbit last night, as seen from Central Otago, New Zealand. We do love a night launch.

📷@dfpollard pic.twitter.com/eaVxrallRO

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) December 15, 2020

Details about Rocket Lab's 18th Electron launch will be announced soon, with the next mission scheduled to take place from Launch Complex 1 early in the new year.