Rocket Lab has signed on a new customer contract with a Seattle-based company as it counts down to a test launch from its Mahia pad.
Spaceflight has bought space on an Electron rocket to increase the frequency of its dedicated rideshare missions.
Dedicated rideshare for small satellites is an alternative where several payloads share the same launch to a specific destination. Spaceflight acts as an agent for a number of customers whose remote sensing missions require high revisit time over North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said the company was delighted that Spaceflight has chosen to sign up as a customer ahead of testing.
It reflected the company's confidence in the Electron and its ability to provide frequent launch opportunities to low orbit, between 300km and 500km above Earth.
The Electron is made entirely carbon-composite and is designed to carry payloads of 225kg to an elliptical orbit and up to 150kg to a nominal 500km sun synchronous low earth orbit.