Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1: launch schedule & viewing guide
Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand is the world's first private orbital launch site. It serves as the primary launch location for Rocket Lab's Electron small launch vehicle, placing small satellites and rideshare payloads into low Earth orbit at a notably high cadence for a privately owned facility.
Upcoming launches from Mahia
- Electron | The Grain Goddess Provides (iQPS Launch 7) In 5 weeks
- Electron | LOXSAT 1 In 8 weeks
- Electron | StriX Launch 10 In 10 weeks
- Electron | Aspera In 12 weeks
- Electron | StriX Launch 11 In 14 weeks
- Electron | StriX Launch 12 In 23 weeks
- Electron | StriX Launch 13 In 32 weeks
- Electron | BlackSky Gen-3 5 In 32 weeks
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About Mahia
Launch Complex 1 became operational in 2017 and was specifically chosen for its remote coastal location, which allows Rocket Lab to launch without the scheduling conflicts common at government-managed ranges. The Māhia Peninsula's position on New Zealand's North Island east coast provides clear downrange trajectory to the south and east, suitable for a wide range of orbital inclinations. Rocket Lab built and operates the range infrastructure independently, a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight.
Electron is a small rocket designed to place payloads of up to a few hundred kilograms into orbit, serving the growing market for dedicated small satellite launches. Rocket Lab has achieved a consistent launch cadence from Mahia, making it one of the most frequently used orbital launch sites in the southern hemisphere. A second launch pad, LC-1B, has been built alongside the original to support higher launch rates.
Rockets: Electron.
Launch operators: Rocket Lab.
Watching a launch near Mahia
The Māhia Peninsula is a rural and scenic area on the eastern coast of the North Island. Rocket Lab occasionally invites media and guests to watch launches from the facility, but there is no permanent public viewing infrastructure. Some launches are visible from elevated hilltops near Mahia Beach and from the surrounding farmland, typically as a rapidly climbing bright light heading south. The peninsula is sparsely populated and the night sky is very dark, making nighttime launches particularly striking.
Best nearby towns to watch from
- Lompoc, CA — about 6446 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
- Vandenberg Village, CA — about 6449 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
- Buellton, CA — about 6455 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
- Solvang, CA — about 6457 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
- Orcutt, CA — about 6458 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
- Guadalupe, CA — about 6459 mi away; launches appear toward the southwest.
Mahia viewing FAQ
Can members of the public watch launches from Mahia?
There is no dedicated public viewing area at the Mahia complex, and access to the launch site itself is restricted. Some launches can be seen from public roads and hilltops on the peninsula, particularly at night. Rocket Lab livestreams all launches, which is how most people experience them. Occasionally local residents on the peninsula watch from their properties.
How often does Rocket Lab launch from Mahia?
Rocket Lab targets a launch cadence of roughly one Electron mission per month from the New Zealand site, though actual timing varies with payload schedules and weather. The company has completed several dozen launches since 2017 and continues to increase the pace. A second pad at the complex allows for parallel launch preparation to shorten the time between missions.
Why did Rocket Lab choose New Zealand for its launch site?
New Zealand's remote eastern coastline offered Rocket Lab a clear launch corridor over open ocean to the south and east with minimal overflight risk. The country's streamlined aerospace regulations and the peninsula's sparse population made permitting and range operations significantly simpler than at shared government ranges. The site's isolation also allows Rocket Lab to control its own launch schedule without queuing behind other operators.