Watch: What the rocket launch will look like

Rocket Lab has just released a video of what a successful launch would look like.

As the countdown clock is running today, the company has released a simulation of the Electron rocket blasting off from Mahia and showing its stages separating before dispatching a cargo in space.

A successful launch will see the rocket climb slowly from the launch pad before accelerating as it burns fuel and loses weight. The rocket hits 27,000km/h to reach orbit.

At 2m 30s after lift-off, engines powering stage 1 cut off and the vacuum Rutherford engine on stage 2 ignites.

After 3m 07s the fairing, or protective casing, around the payload separates and at 7m 24s stage 2 engine cuts off as Electron reaches final orbit more than 300km above the Earth's surface.

At 7m 31s the payload (which will not be in today's planned test flight) will separate from the launch vehicle.

Rocket Lab is not live streaming the launch but will release footage if it is successful.

An emergency services command centre has been set up at the Mahia waterfront to help with Rocket Lab's testing window.

Police, fire, and St John are at the Mahia boating and fishing club. It's understood representatives from Wairoa District, and Hawke's Bay Regional Council are also on site.

The agencies will in Mahia for the duration of the testing window. Their duties range from assisting with patrol boats to communicating with residents.

Hawke's Bay Today was told no one on site could comment, as all communications were to go through Rocket Lab.