Recent Activity
50+ cumulative Electron launches from Mahia as of 2026; HASTE hypersonic test flights expanded for DoD customers
Investor Brief
Only privately-owned, privately-licensed orbital range in the Southern Hemisphere. Provides RKLB sovereign launch cadence independent of U.S. range scheduling.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Country
🇳🇿New Zealand
Region
Oceania
Established
2,016
Launches / Year
1,520
Years Active
10
Strategic Position
-39.2615° S, 177.8649° E
Azimuth: Approximately northeast to southeast (over open Pacific)
39.3°S — wide inclination envelope including high-i SSO and retrograde access
Future Milestones
- 2026
Continued high-cadence Electron operations alongside U.S. LC-2
- 2027
Potential Neutron support operations under evaluation (primary Neutron site is Wallops)
About
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula is the world's first private orbital launch site and one of the most active small-launch facilities globally. It supports Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle with a high launch cadence, serving commercial, government, and defense customers with dedicated small-satellite missions. The site comprises two Electron pads (LC-1A, LC-1B) plus integration and range-control infrastructure on private peninsula land leased from Maori iwi partners.
Key Features
World's first private orbital launch site (Electron, May 2017)
Two purpose-built Electron pads (LC-1A and LC-1B) for high cadence
Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude opens unique inclination envelope
Minimal air and sea traffic enables flexible launch windowing
Licensed under New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) regulatory regime
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
It's a Test (2017) — first Electron launch from Mahia
Still Testing (2018) — first Electron to reach orbit
CAPSTONE (2022) — NASA cislunar pathfinder for Lunar Gateway
50th Electron launch milestone achieved (2024)
Multiple NRO national-security dedicated missions under NROL contracts
Upcoming Launches From This Site
Next missions scheduled to fly from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Rocket
- Electron
- NET
- Pad
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Rocket
- Electron
- NET
- Pad
- Unknown Pad
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Rocket
- Electron
- NET
- Pad
- Unknown Pad
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Rocket
- Electron
- NET
- Pad
- Unknown Pad
Recent Launches From This Site
Most recent missions flown from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1
- Electron | Another One Leaves The Crust (GMS-T)Rocket LabSuccess
- Electron | They Go Up So Fast (Rideshare)Rocket LabSuccess
- Electron | Running Out of Toes (BlackSky 8-9)Rocket LabFailure
- Electron | It’s a Little Chile Up Here (STP-27RM)Rocket LabSuccess
- Electron | The Owl’s Night Continues (StriX-β)Rocket LabSuccess
- Electron | Without Mission A Beat (BlackSky 16-17)Rocket LabSuccess