Blast-off from Hawke's Bay closer

Lift-off from Northern Hawke's Bay is one step closer. PHOTO/FILE

Lift-off from Northern Hawke's Bay is one step closer.

Rocket Lab delivered its first Electron rocket to Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 late last night marking the beginning of pre-flight checkouts.

The rocket was trucked to the Mahia Peninsula from Rocket Lab's Auckland facility.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said, "it's an important milestone for our team and for the space industry, both in New Zealand and globally. In the past, it's been countries that go to space, not companies".

"Through the innovative use of new technologies our team has created an affordable launch vehicle designed for manufacture at scale. Our ultimate goal is to change our ability to access space."

"Since we commenced this project three years ago, our team has accomplished an incredible amount - the vehicle has gone through rigorous qualification and acceptance testing, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 has been completed and major tracking infrastructure has been installed in remote locations."

Over the coming weeks, a series of tests and checkouts will be conducted at the site before the rocket, named It's a Test, is signed-off to fly.

"We put it out to our team to name the vehicle," Mr Beck said."We wanted to acknowledge the intensive research and development Electron has undergone and that continues with these test flights."

The launch, which will be the first orbital launch attempt from New Zealand, is the first of three planned test launches before Rocket Lab begins providing customers commercial satellite launches.