Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Overview
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, also known as the Māhia Launch Complex, is a commercial spaceport located near Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of the Māhia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island. Owned and operated by Rocket Lab, this facility supports launches of the Electron rocket, primarily for small satellite (SmallSat) missions.
Officially opened on September 26, 2016, the complex made history on May 25, 2017, as the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt. It became the first private site to achieve a successful orbital launch with the Electron rocket on January 21, 2018.
Location and Infrastructure
Launch Complex 1 sits on an elevated plateau at 104 meters (341 feet) above sea level, surrounded by cliffs on three sides. The only road access is a single route north, crossing the isthmus that connects the peninsula to the rest of the North Island. The nearest town, Wairoa, is 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of the site, along the curve of Hawke Bay.
The spaceport features:
- A50-ton launch platform and tower
- Arocket integration hangar
- Storage tanks forliquid oxygen and kerosene
- A designatedexclusion zone, initially set at 8 kilometers (5 miles), which was expected to decrease once the site became commercially operational.
Selection of Māhia Peninsula
Rocket Lab originally announced Kaitorete Spit, near Canterbury on New Zealand’s South Island, as its preferred launch site on July 1, 2015. While suitable for sun-synchronous orbits, equatorial launches were not possible due to the proximity of Banks Peninsula.
By August 2015, the Māhia Peninsula site at Onenui Station was identified as a second option. Following rapid approval from the Wairoa District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in October 2015, Rocket Lab prioritized Māhia over Kaitorete Spit due to delays in obtaining resource consents.
Official Launch Site Establishment
On November 23, 2015, Rocket Lab confirmed Māhia Peninsula as its primary launch facility. The site was officially inaugurated on September 26, 2016, in a ceremony led by New Zealand’s Minister for Economic Development.
Conclusion
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 is a key player in New Zealand’s growing space industry. With its strategic location, dedicated infrastructure, and proven launch history, it serves as an essential hub for commercial satellite launches and the advancement of private spaceflight.