Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch their Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) into low Earth orbit on Sunday, July 13 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. The cost of the mission is $7.5 million. This is Rocket Lab’s 69th mission, and the 11th mission in 2025.
Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) is a modified version of the Electron rocket, designed to support a diverse range of suborbital trajectories for various clients, primarily in the defense sector.
The vehicle, code name “Jake 4” appears to be a hypersonic re-entry vehicle equipped with air-breathing propulsion capabilities. Following an initial exo-atmospheric ballistic trajectory, it can activate an air-breathing engine upon re-entry to modify its trajectory and leverage atmospheric effects for precise maneuvering toward its intended target. By analyzing published hazard zones in comparison to known Electron launch profiles, an approximate trajectory for the HASTE mission can be inferred.
The forecast calls for a temperature of 80°F, broken clouds, 75% cloud cover and a wind speed of 8mph.