The ‘Baby Come Back’ mission successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 1B on the Mahia Peninsula in Latest Zealand at 01:27 UTC, sending seven payloads right into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
Following the launch, the rocket headed on a Southerly trajectory, and, roughly two and a half minutes into flight, the primary and second stages separated, because the second stage continued on to orbit, the primary used its response control thrusters to orient itself to survive the extreme heating that happens during atmospheric reentry where the primary stage reaches accelerates to eight times the speed of sound.
Successful Launch? ✅
Payloads deployed for @NASA, @SpireGlobal, & @SFL_SmallerSats? ✅
Electron booster successfully recovered? ✅
We call that MISSION SUCCESS for Electron’s thirty ninth launch! pic.twitter.com/Fs44BS5sES
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) July 18, 2023
After speeding through the atmosphere, the primary stage deployed a drogue chute to start the deceleration of the primary stage before deploying the essential parachute. Splashdown occurred around 17 minutes after launch, in keeping with the corporate’s webcast.
This primary stage featured various improvements over past recovered first stages, including higher sealing to maintain seawater out of critical areas across the interstage and engine areas. The parachute system was also upgraded and is lighter than previous missions, which helps with buoyancy within the ocean.
Rocket Lab pronounces next launch, will attempt first stage recovery
This was also the primary time Rocket Lab hoisted the rocket out of the water with two lift point crane system, which created less stress on the body of the rocket.
The rocket will now be brought back to Latest Zealand for his or her teams to look over the info and make adjustments for future launches. It’s unlikely this rocket will fly again, but there may be a high probability 1 or more of the engines could make one other flight as the corporate marches forward to reusability of your entire first stage.
While the primary stage recovery was ongoing, the Curie kick stage was performing maneuvers to insert itself into the correct orbit for the 7 payloads.
4 NASA satellites were deployed between 49 and 51 minutes into the mission. The Starling mission will test in-space communications, navigation, and maneuvers between the spacecraft.
Two satellites for Spire Global were then deployed shortly after at 51 minutes after launch. These satellites carry the Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) payloads, which shall be used to replenish their current constellation.
Finally, coming in at an hour and 45 minutes and a pair of more burns of the 3d printed Curie engine, the Telesat LEO 3 demonstration satellite was deployed and shall be used to switch the decommissioned LEO 1 satellite and proceed its test campaign.
With the 7 satellites deployed and the primary stage recovered, Rocket Lab accomplished its seventh mission of the yr, thirty ninth overall.
![](https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/53054085799_b3dc787f28_k.jpg)
Rocket Lab can now say, Baby Got here Back. (Credit Rocket Lab)