RocketLab Launches First Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron

Rocket Lab has successfully conducted a secretive suborbital test launch of its Electron vehicle.

The mission, named Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE), took place at Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia; with minimal public awareness and no live webcast, the launch remained shrouded in secrecy until after liftoff.

The HASTE vehicle, a modified version of the standard Electron, blasted off at 9:24 pm ET. Rocket Lab confirmed the success of the mission in a statement approximately 90 minutes later.

[tweet https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1670260829424619521?s=20]

Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab shortly after released a statement via Twitter

[tweet https://twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/1670263363824390145?s=20]

Specific details about the launch, including the payload, peak altitude, and speed, were not disclosed by Rocket Lab. The company had previously declared in April that HASTE was designed to carry suborbital test payloads weighing up to 700 kilograms. It underwent minor modifications to strengthen its structures, allowing for these specialized missions.

The lack of information surrounding the HASTE launch marked a departure from Rocket Lab's usual approach of publicizing and broadcasting its orbital Electron launches. Even missions for national security customers, such as the National Reconnaissance Office, were typically announced in advance.

Rocket Lab anticipates significant demand from the U.S. Department of Defense for hypersonics testing and target services. The company's CEO, Peter Beck, expressed confidence in the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of HASTE, stating, "We can get exact trajectories at a cost and frequency but also an accuracy that's never been available before."

With similarities to the standard Electron vehicle, Rocket Lab aims to achieve economies of scale for HASTE. The more vehicles the company produces, the lower the cost per launch, increasing its affordability and accessibility.

Wallops Flight Facility, operated by NASA, played a crucial role in supporting the HASTE mission. The facility's director, David Pierce, highlighted the suitability of Wallops as a research and testing range for these types of missions, emphasizing its core purpose.

During a recent earnings call, Rocket Lab projected a total of 15 Electron launches in 2023, encompassing both orbital and suborbital HASTE missions. However, the company did not provide a breakdown between the two categories. The successful launch of HASTE on June 17 marked Rocket Lab's sixth Electron launch of the year.