This is a small orbital rocket by Rocket Lab, a NZ/US company. They flew a suborbital test flight earlier this year. This will be the first test of the compete rocket with upper stage. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)
If successful, this will be only the third ever orbital launch from the southern hemisphere!
Good thing there isn't any wind in New Zealand to delay the launch!
Cameron Bennett
livestream placard just updated: action commences at 3:05
Nathan Wood
The stream timer finally updated. ~10 minutes until the stream starts.
John Phillips
They pushed it back another half hour.
Evan Nguyen
Even SpaceX isn't this bad
Leo Morris
This is literally their first orbital launch. SpaceX started trying to launch things in December 2005 (earlier, actually, since they originally started at Vandenberg but weren't allowed to try while a Titan was on the pad, but I've never been able to pin down the date), and first put something in orbit in 2008.
Blake Johnson
and their first livestream... from the ass end of New Zealand. SpaceX is practically in Hollywood, with lots of new media talent on board.
Carson James
so why is NZ allowed to fire off ICBM's and noone cares but when NK does it everyone gets upset
Asher Edwards
Because we have no enemies and no nuclear warheads, in fact we have no warheads of any kind suitable for ballistic missiles
Camden Miller
Rocket Lab is actually organized primarily as a US company, although the leadership is from New Zealand, where it launches the rockets.
Charles Fisher
It's live!
Nathan Foster
happening
Justin Powell
If this thing blows up I will be sad
Liam Davis
The cost to launch those satellites must've been dirt cheap. I wouldn't trust a company's first orbital launch and a rocket called "Still Testing" to get my payload to orbit.
Matthew Kelly
It's a test flight, they only put a couple of cubesats on, because why not?
Nathaniel Williams
Ah bugger
Adrian Mitchell
FUCK
Aborted on ignition.
Jackson Cooper
That was a very fancy abort.
Nicholas Evans
any abort you can recycle is a good abort
Justin Diaz
>nature noises >tiny launch pad on a cliff This launch site is kino
Ethan Morgan
Scrubbed for the day. Sorry guys, that's it.
Carter Walker
ah well, another time perhaps
Gabriel Harris
They've launched an Electron before, this is their second orbital attempt.
Michael Lopez
...
Cameron Kelly
My mistake. Their earlier launch was only accidentally suborbital. Second stage lost telemetry shortly after separation and was blown up as a safety measure.
Jace Green
That's actually not true. Aside from Black Arrow there were also a few Scout launches from Kenya.