Wallops Flight Facility selected for U.S. launch site
VIRGINIA – U.S. orbital launch provider Rocket Lab announced Wednesday that it will build its first U.S. launch pad for the Electron rocket at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
We’re told this site will be Rocket Lab’s second dedicated launch complex, with their first launch complex located in New Zealand.
Launch Complex 2 will have the capability to support monthly orbital launches, designed to serve U.S. government and commercial missions. The addition of this site will allow Rocket Lab to launch over 130 missions per year across the two sites.
The option to select from two launch sites also adds an extra layer of flexibility for small satellite customers, offering an unparalleled ability to quickly deploy space based assets with confidence and precision from a preferred location.
“Accessing space should be simple, seamless, and tailored to our customers’ missions – from idea to orbit. Launching from a second pad builds on Rocket Lab’s ability to offer the small satellite industry unmatched schedule and launch location flexibility,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “Having proven the Electron vehicle with a successful orbital launch this year, we’re thrilled to expand on our ability to provide rapid, reliable and affordable access to orbit for small satellites. We’ve worked closely with the experienced and welcoming teams from Virginia Space and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops to design a pad and processes that will enable an agile and streamlined approach to small satellite launch on US soil.”
Rocket Lab says they will work with Virginia Space to construct dedicated pad infrastructure at the site, tailored to the Electron launch vehicle. Rocket Lab will also develop a Launch Vehicle Integration and Assembly Facility in the Wallops Research Park to support the simultaneous integration of up to four electron vehicles. This new facility will provide significant and dedicated vehicle processing capability and flexibility to meet Rocket Lab’s high launch cadence.
“Wallops has more than 70 years of experience successfully supporting missions using suborbital as well as small and medium-class orbital launch vehicles. We look forward, along with our partner Virginia Space and its Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, to supporting Rocket Lab’s Electron missions and expanding commercial launch operations from Wallops,” said Bill Wrobel, director of NASA Wallops.
Rocket Lab expects to create roughly 30 jobs immediately to directly support Launch Complex 2, with this number predicted to increase to nearly 100 as launch frequency increases.
