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An electronic Rocket Lab launcher takes off from New Zealand on January 20, 2018 for the second flight of the booster, a successful demonstration mission called "Still Testing". The launch of the first Electron business mission, "It's Business Time", is scheduled for November 10, 2018.
Credit: Rocket Lab
The space flight startup Rocket Lab will launch its first fully operational commercial mission on Saturday night (November 10) and watch the historic takeoff live.
Rocket Lab's 57-foot (17-meter) Electron booster is expected to roll out of the platform at the company's launch site in New Zealand on Saturday at 10pm. On November 11 (EST), a mission dubbed "It's Business Time". You can watch live action here on Space.com, courtesy of Rocket Lab, or directly through the company's website.
The launch window lasts 4 hours on Saturday night. If "it is the hour of work" is delayed, similar windows of 4 hours are open the next eight nights. [In Photos: Rocket Lab’s Electron Booster for Small Satellites]
If all goes as planned, "It's Business Time" will deliver six small satellites into Earth's orbit, about 500 km above our planet. The spacecraft is owned by Spire Global, Tyvak nano-satellite systems, Fleet Space Technologies and Irvine CubeSat's STEM program, Rocket Lab officials said. The Irvine CubeSat STEM satellite also contains innovative thrusters designed by Accion Systems for propulsion.
The Electron will also feature a "drag-sail" demonstrator, designed to test a technology that will help desorb obsolete satellites faster and more efficiently.
The launch of Saturday will mark the third takeoff of the Electron. The rocket had already piloted demonstration missions in May 2017 and January of this year. On this last flight, called "Still Testing", Electron managed to put into orbit four small satellites.
Electron may be a little booster, but Rocket Lab thinks it can do great things. The company's goal is to make spaceflight more frequent and more accessible with Electron, which can launch up to 500 pounds (227 kg) in orbit for about $ 5 million per flight.
Saturday's flight was originally scheduled for April. Rocket Lab delayed the launch several times to deal with a problem with Electron's engine control and other problems.
Mike Wall's book on the quest for extraterrestrial life, "Out There," will be published on November 13 by Grand Central Publishing. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally posted on Space.com.
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