About Rocket Lab Launches
Electron and Neutron
Electron is Rocket Lab’s small launcher: about 18 metres tall, with carbon-composite structures and Rutherford engines driven by electric pumps. It carries satellites of up to about 300 kilograms and has flown dozens of times, making it one of the busiest small rockets in the world.
Neutron is a much larger, partly reusable rocket designed to carry around 13 tonnes to low Earth orbit. Its first launches are planned from Wallops Island in Virginia and will appear here as soon as they are scheduled.
Two launch sites
Most Electron missions fly from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island, which has two pads and very little air and sea traffic. Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, is used for missions for US government customers.
Because Mahia is in a time zone far from Europe and the Americas, many launches happen during the night or early morning for viewers in those regions. Times on this page are converted to your own time zone.
Mission names and recovery
Rocket Lab gives most Electron missions a playful name chosen with the customer, so the mission name is often more memorable than the satellite name. Several first stages have been recovered from the ocean after splashdown as part of the company’s reusability work.
The latest results table further down lists the outcome of recent Rocket Lab launches together with the company’s launch count for the year.
For satellite objects that have already reached orbit, use Recently Launched Satellites. For wider orbital tracking, open the Satellite Directory or the Deep Space section.
Rocket Lab at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Electron | About 18 m tall; up to about 300 kg to low Earth orbit |
| Neutron | Medium-lift rocket with a reusable first stage, about 13 t to low Earth orbit (in development) |
| Launch Complex 1 | Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand — two pads for Electron |
| Launch Complex 2 & 3 | Wallops Island, Virginia, USA — Electron and Neutron |
Data, update and accuracy details
- Data source: the Launch Library 2 database from The Space Devs, which aggregates launch-provider announcements.
- How often data refreshes: the schedule is cached on our server for up to 15 minutes; refresh the page to see the newest cached copy.
- Accuracy: launch times can change at short notice because of weather, range conflicts or technical checks. The page shows the planned time and its precision label; it is not a live telemetry or webcast feed. Confirm critical plans, such as travelling to a viewing site, with the launch provider.
Content last reviewed: 30 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which launches appear on this page?
Every upcoming launch operated by Rocket Lab, including Electron missions and the Neutron rocket once it is scheduled.
Does Rocket Lab reuse its rockets?
Rocket Lab has recovered several Electron first stages from the ocean as part of its reusability work, and Neutron is designed with a reusable first stage.
Where does Rocket Lab launch from?
Electron launches mainly from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, and also from Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island, Virginia. The larger Neutron rocket is being prepared for Wallops.
How big is the Electron rocket?
Electron is about 18 m tall and can carry up to about 300 kg to low Earth orbit. It is one of the most frequently flown small launchers in the world.
Can I see a Rocket Lab launch?
From the Mahia Peninsula and Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand the launch is easy to see in clear weather. The checker on this page estimates it for your location.
Launch schedule and associated imagery: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. SpaceTracker.live uses a shared server-side cache and retains image credits when provided by the source record.