Overview
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 (LC-1) is the world's first privately built and operated orbital launch site. Located on the Māhia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island east coast, LC-1 provides Rocket Lab with a dedicated pad for its Electron small-sat launcher. The site's remote location, open ocean downrange trajectory in all directions, and low air traffic make it ideal for high-cadence small satellite launches with minimal range scheduling conflicts.
Facility Details
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Māhia Peninsula, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 39.2615°S, 177.8649°E |
| Operator | Rocket Lab |
| First Launch | 25 May 2017 ("It's a Test") |
| Active Vehicle | Electron |
| Orbital Access | SSO, LEO (wide range of inclinations), up to 45° from southern launch) |
| Pads | Pad A and Pad B |
Why New Zealand?
New Zealand's geographic isolation in the South Pacific provides clear downrange trajectories in nearly every direction — north, south and east — with no populated land in the flight path. This enables access to a wider range of orbital inclinations from a single site than almost any other spaceport. Low air and sea traffic means fewer range hold delays, allowing Rocket Lab to maintain a high launch cadence (every 2–3 weeks at peak).
New Zealand also offered a favourable regulatory environment. Rocket Lab worked with the NZ government to create the country's first space legislation (Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017), enabling commercial orbital launches.
Launch Cadence
LC-1 has hosted 50+ Electron launches since 2017, making Rocket Lab the second-most-frequent US-affiliated orbital launch provider after SpaceX. Two pads (A and B) allow rapid turnaround and concurrent processing of multiple vehicles. Rocket Lab also operates LC-2 at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia for US government missions requiring domestic launch.