WELLINGTON, 26 May (BelTA - Xinhua) - New Zealand saw Thursday history-making as an Electron rocket was launched successfully from a private launch site on its territory, making it the 11th country to launch into space.
RocketLab, an American-New Zealand aerospace company, "broke new ground today" when its rocket Electron reached space at 16:23 NZST (0423 GMT), said the company release.
Electron lifted off from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula. It was the first orbital-class rocket launched from a private launch site in the world, the release said.
Thursday's launch was the first of three test flights scheduled for this year. Rocket Lab will target getting to orbit on the second test and look to maximize the payload the rocket can carry, said Beck.
At full production, Rocket Lab expects to launch more than 50 times a year and is regulated to launch up to 120 times a year, according to the company.
In comparison, there were 22 launches last year from the United States, and 82 internationally.
