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Rocket Lab Unveils Its First US Launch Complex at Wallops Island

Rocket Lab's Electron Rocket Will Be Used at Wallops Launch Site
Rocket Lab's Electron Rocket Will Be Used at Wallops Launch Site. (Photo Courtesy of Rockets Lab)

Virginia’s space portal has a new launch pad, unveiled last week at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, which is part of the Eastern Shore. It’s offering smaller, cheaper, and faster flights into space for commercial and government customers. 

The company Rocket Lab started launching rockets in 2017 from a pad in New Zealand, but has just introduced its very first American launch facility at Wallops Island.  

" We are very proud to deliver a new launch capability to the United States," CEO Peter Beck said. 

Beck says the company plans to launch smaller satellites in orbit for commercial and government customers with less wait time and less cost than rockets like Antares which has been launching supply missions to the International  Space Station.

Rocket Lab will be flying their first mission next year, for the US Air Force.

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