Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle. Photo Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab called off its initial June 23 launch attempt from Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. The company confirmed that the decision to postpone the Electron rocket launch was due to an issue with a tracking dish on the Chatham Islands and was made just before 16:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST). Spare parts were sent to the Islands to rectify the fault.

The company decided not to make a second attempt on Sunday 24 due to weather and the launch team was stood down. The launch is now targeted for no earlier than 12:30 pm (00:30 UTC) Wednesday 27 June.

The “It’s Business Time” launch window extends until July 6, with daily launch windows running from 12:30 to 16:30 NZST. The mission will be the first commercial flight of the Electron rocket and will loft two satellites for Spire Global, the GeoOptics nanosatellite for Tvak Nanosatellite Systems and NABEO, a drag-sail technology demonstration satellite.