Micro satellite space launch company Vector Space Systems has launched its P-20 rocket, a sub-scale test vehicle for its Vector 1 vehicle, in a test flight conducted in Mojave, California, US.

The test has been conducted to certify the next development version of Vector's high-performance upper stage engine that runs on a propellant featuring a combination of liquid oxygen and densified propylene.

The test flight also showed the ignition and operation of a single-piece injector fabricated using 3D additive manufacturing.

"Vector has already quickly and successfully progressed through not only engine testing, but all the way into initial flight operations."

Vector plans to conduct a large-scale test flights of Vector 1 by next year, with orbital launch scheduled for 2018.

Vector Space Systems CEO and co-founder Jim Cantrell said: "This successful launch, our very first vehicle launch as Vector Space Systems, not only demonstrates the maturity of our launch technology, flight operations and propulsion systems, but also shows our commitment to supporting new-space startups by including a customer payload in our very first launch.

"Vector has already quickly and successfully progressed through not only engine testing, but all the way into initial flight operations, and now the inclusion of a customer payload, putting us on a fast-track to orbital launches by 2018."

During the test, the P-20 carried a payload that includes a prototype of Finland-based company Iceye’s micro satellite's core computing, as well as communications systems to test its electrical and mechanical resilience in a launch environment.

Iceye is currently working to launch and operate a constellation of micro satellites that carry its own synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor technology.

The company recently finalised a deal with Vector to conduct 21 launches for its commercial SAR satellite constellation, which will be launched over a period of four years.