Global satellite rideshare and mission management provider Spaceflighthas has collaborated with Rocket Lab to carry out three orbital launch missions from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand.

The planned missions will be conducted onboard Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle on behalf of Canon Electronics, BlackSky and others.

Expected to be carried out later this year, a BlackSky microsat will be deployed during the first mission, along with other rideshare customers into the lower Earth orbit.

Both the second and third missions are scheduled to be carried out early next year, and will involve the launch of satellites from a number of commercial and government organisations and an Earth observation satellite for Canon Electronic.

All the spacecrafts will be launched into the lower Earth orbit.

“In partnering with Spaceflight, Rocket Lab delivers streamlined launches and enables innovative missions like those of Canon Electronics and BlackSky.”

Spaceflight has purchased the Electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab on behalf of its customers and will offer mission campaign integration services.

Rocket Lab will help with satellite to launch vehicle integration and will provide the launch service to orbit using Electron.

Spaceflight business development vice-president Melissa Wuerl said: “Adding the Electron to our portfolio of small launch vehicles fulfils a need for customers to access space with shorter lead times.”

In May 2017, Spaceflight bought an Electron rocket to increase the frequency of its dedicated rideshare missions.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said: “Rapid and repeatable access to space is crucial for the development of vital infrastructure on orbit.

“In partnering with Spaceflight, Rocket Lab delivers streamlined launches and enables innovative missions like those of Canon Electronics and BlackSky.”

All the proposed missions are subject to approval by the Government of New Zealand.