Rocket Lab has successfully launched a rocket into space this afternoon following a series of weather-related delays.
The mission was carried out from the Kiwi-US aerospace manufacturer's launch pad in the Māhia Peninsula, in Wairoa, at 12.27pm today.
The test, involving Rocket Lab's Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (DARPA R3D2) spacecraft, was carried out in order to test an experimental expandable antenna for the US Department of Defence's experimental technology division, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
''There are a lot of dual technologies that can be used in space and this antenna is a great example. While it has a military communication application, there is equal amount of interest in it being used for commercial purposes as well," Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said.
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