OREANDA-NEWS. The American private company «Rocket Lab», has successfully started 2021 with the launch of a German satellite to test communication frequencies in polar orbit. In total, the company plans for this year nine missions. This information was published on Twitter.

«Rocket Lab» is talking about the launch of the «Electron» launch vehicle with a small communications satellite of the «OHB Group» company on January 20. The process could be followed by a live broadcast. The rocket was launched at 10:27 (Moscow time) from the launch complex 1A of the company's spaceport on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Approximately 1 h. 10 min. after the launch, the satellite should be put into a polar orbit using the Curie upper stage. The company said in a press release that the satellite will allow certain frequencies to be used to support future services in orbit. Other details about the spacecraft are not provided.

The «Electron» is a two-stage light-class launch vehicle and can be retrofitted with an additional third stage. The first flight of the rocket took place on May 25, 2017. Since then, «Electron» has made 17 flights and launched 96 small satellites into orbit. Two launches failed. In November 2020, Rocket Lab was able to rescue the first Electron stage for the first time by parachuting into the ocean.

This launch was the 18th for the «Electron» rocket and the 4th orbital launch in 2021.