Rocket Lab - Launch 16 "Return to Sender" Mission patch.
Nov. 20, 2020
Electron “Return to Sender” launch
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Return to Sender” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 20 November 2020, at 02:20 UTC (15:20 NZT). “Return to Sender” is a rideshare mission with 30 satellites launched to a sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km altitude.
Electron “Return to Sender” launch
The mission is Electron’s 16th launch and the first to attempt to bring Electron’s first stage back to Earth under a parachute system for a controlled water landing, before collection by a recovery vessel.
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches 30 small satellites and payloads for a range of customers, including TriSept, Unseenlabs, Swarm Technologies, Te Pūnaha Ātea – Auckland Space Institute, and Gabe Newell, co-founder of global gaming software company Valve.
Electron rocket first stage back to Earth
Rocket Lab also try to attempt to recover the Electron rocket’s first stage by parachute for the first time. Delayed from Nov. 15 and Nov. 18.
Rocket Lab: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: Illustrations, images and video courtesy of Rocket Lab, SciNews, Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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