We have an inclinometer that was showing some strange data. It's not used for flight, but we still want to figure out the cause, — wrote Rocket Lab representatives in an updated information. — That's the beauty of working at your own site — we have the luxury of extra time to delay the launch and be completely confident».
Rocket Lab has a 10-day window in which the company can make its first flight this year, called «Another One Leaves the Crust» from its launch complex No. 1. The mission will be Rocket Lab's 18th flight and should bring the number of satellites successfully launched into orbit to 97. «We are abandoning today's mission for the sake of analyzing sensor data, — the company added in another comment. — Fortunately, we have a 10-day window for this mission, so we have plenty of opportunities to relaunch in the coming days».
As Rocket Lab reported, the payload of the communication microsatellite for OHB Group is designed to operate at specific frequencies and support future services from orbit. The launch is organized by OHB Cosmos, the launch contract division of OHB Group. After the payload is deployed into the designated orbit in this mission, the booster will enter the dense layers of the atmosphere at such a speed that it will burn up and not turn into space debris. In this mission, Rocket Lab, unlike the previous one, will not attempt to return the first stage of the Electron to Earth for subsequent reuse.
Based in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab launched eight Electron missions in 2020 and aims to increase launch frequency in 2021 with two new launch sites. Launch Complex No. 2 at NASA's Wallops Island, Virginia, is expected to be used for the first time later this year. Meanwhile, the company is building another site next to Launch Complex No. 1 to increase its launch capabilities from the Mahia Peninsula.