Success
Don't Be Such A Square (STP-S30)
Technology
Rocket Lab(RL)CommercialElectron
LEOorbit
STP-S30 is a complex mission that will deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the DoD and contribute to future space systems development. The projected primary payload, DISKSat, will demonstrate sustained very low earth orbit (VLEO) flight and test a unique, 1-meter diameter, disk-shaped satellite bus that is designed to increase on-orbit persistence.
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Replay
Flight Timeline
- T-02:00Startup
- T-00:02Ignition
- T+00:00Liftoff
- T+01:11Supersonic
- T+01:14Max-Q
- T+02:40MECO
- T+02:44Stage 2 Separation
- T+02:47SES
- T+03:41Fairing Separation
- T+06:40Battery Hotswap
- T+09:19SECO
- T+09:23Kick Stage Separation
- T+53:44Kick Stage Ignition
- T+55:30Payload Separation
- T+55:30Kick Stage Cut-off
Links
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#7,161
RL Mission
#78
Pad Launch
#10
Location Launch
#84
Designator
2025-305
Weather GO
80%
Launch Window
NET
Dec 18, 2025, 5:03 AM
Precision
Minute
Schedule Changes
1 update
Electron Specs
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
Length
18 m
Diameter
1.2 m
Launch Mass
13 t
Thrust
162 kN
LEO Capacity
300 kg
SSO Capacity
225 kg
Launch Cost
$6M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2017
Fastest Turnaround
21h 55m
Total Launches
88
Successful
84
Failed
4
Consecutive Success
47
Maiden flight: May 25, 2017
Social Flight Log
- Dec 18, 2025, 4:27 PM
Launch success.
Source - Dec 18, 2025, 6:14 AM
All 4 spacecraft has separated.
Source - Dec 18, 2025, 5:03 AM
Liftoff.
Source - Dec 18, 2025, 4:50 AM
Tweaked T-0 and weather forecast.
Source - Dec 18, 2025, 2:13 AM
Updated launch weather, 70% GO.
Source - Dec 16, 2025, 11:06 PM
GO for launch.
Source - Dec 10, 2025, 10:07 PM
GO for launch (launch window is per https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=63362.msg2742010#msg2742010).
Source - Dec 3, 2025, 9:10 PM
Moved back to NET December with appearance of possible marine navigation warnings NET December 18; to be confirmed as for this launch.
Source - Oct 25, 2025, 9:57 PM
NET December 8.
Source - Aug 11, 2025, 12:12 PM
NET late 2025.
Source - Apr 9, 2024, 5:14 AM
Added launch
Source
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)
Total Launches
12
Orbital Attempts
4
Fastest Turnaround
8d
Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
Founded
2006
Administrator
CEO: Peter Beck
Total Launches
88
Successful
84
Failed
4
Pending
42
Consecutive Success
47
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Timezone
America/New_York
Local Launch Time
Dec 18, 2025, 12:03 AM
Total Launches
86
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
37.9333, -75.4678