Running Out Of Fingers
Running Out Of Fingers was a Rocket Lab Electron mission for Alba Orbital that launched successfully at 08:18 UTC on 6 December 2019 (9:18 p.m. NZDT on 6 December; 3:18 a.m. EST on 6 December) from Launch Complex 1A on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
08:18 UTC on 6 December 2019 · 9:18 p.m. NZDT on 6 December · 3:18 a.m. EST on 6 December
Mission State
This mission currently has a dated launch window in the tracker.
The primary watch link points to an official Rocket Lab source.
Name Origin
This name playfully suggests Rocket Lab is conducting so many rideshare missions, they are "running out of fingers" to count or assign to each one, highlighting their successful and frequent rideshare service.
Mission Overview
This is the Rocket Lab's 10th flight. It carries several small satellites for international commercial customers. This is also the first flight to feature an upgraded first stage of the Electron rocket, which is now equipped with new hardware and sensors. After completing its mission, Electron's first stage will perform a guided atmospheric re-entry, gathering data necessary for the development of Rocket Lab's reusability program.
Technical Details
31
kiwis- Running Out Of Fingers rocketlabusa.com
Launch data cross-checked against Wikipedia.
Was this a jellyfish launch?
HighSun 9° below the horizon at liftoff — prime twilight.
Details
- Unlikely
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Liftoff
- 9:18 p.m. NZDT · 08:18 UTC
- Sunset
- 8:23 p.m. NZDT · 07:23 UTC
- Civil dusk (−6°)
- 8:55 p.m. NZDT · 07:55 UTC
- Nautical dusk (−12°)
- 9:35 p.m. NZDT · 08:35 UTC
- Astronomical dusk (−18°)
- 10:20 p.m. NZDT · 09:20 UTC
Twilight times at the pad (Mahia, NZ) for the evening of the launch.
What's a rocket jellyfish? When a rocket launches in twilight, the ground is dark but its exhaust plume climbs into sunlight high above. The expanding plume glows against the dark sky in a jellyfish-like shape.
This launch's jellyfish, via NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Space-Object Catalog
| Object | Operator | Built by | Mass | Orbit | Status | NORAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALE-2 2019-084A · Payload | Operator Kabushikigaisha ALE (eru) | Built by Kabushikigaisha ALE (eru) ALE | Mass 75 kg | Orbit 132 × 144 km · 96.8° | Status Decayed 2023-04-18 | NORAD 44824 |
Electron 10 Kick Stage 2019-084B · Stage | Operator Rocket Lab Ltd. | Built by Rocket Lab Ltd. Kick Stage | Mass 50 kg | Orbit 194 × 199 km · 96.9° | Status Decayed 2020-11-08 | NORAD 44825 |
Electron 10 Stage 2 2019-084C · Stage | Operator Rocket Lab Ltd. | Built by Rocket Lab Ltd. Electron St2 | Mass 250 kg | Orbit 143 × 170 km · 97.0° | Status Decayed 2019-12-18 | NORAD 44826 |
NOOR 1A 2019-084D · Payload | Operator Stara Space | Built by Alba Orbital Ltd. PocketQube 3P | Mass 0.8 kg | Orbit 177 × 183 km · 96.9° | Status Decayed 2020-12-29 | NORAD 44827 |
NOOR 1B 2019-084E · Payload | Operator Stara Space | Built by Alba Orbital Ltd. PocketQube 3P | Mass 0.8 kg | Orbit 159 × 174 km · 97.0° | Status Decayed 2020-04-07 | NORAD 44828 |
Fossasat-1 2019-084F · Payload | Operator Fossa Systems | Built by Fossa Systems PocketQube 1P | Mass 0.3 kg | Orbit 192 × 195 km · 96.9° | Status Decayed 2020-10-28 | NORAD 44829 |
Magyar-OSCAR-106 2019-084G · Payload | Operator Advanced Technology of Laser Kft. | Built by Advanced Technology of Laser Kft. PocketQube 2P | Mass 0.5 kg | Orbit 141 × 156 km · 96.9° | Status Decayed 2020-10-09 | NORAD 44830 |
TRSI-Sat 2019-084H · Payload | Operator TRSI Club (Paul Kocyla) | Built by TRSI Club (Paul Kocyla) PocketQube 1P | Mass 0.3 kg | Orbit 216 × 226 km · 97.0° | Status Decayed 2020-10-11 | NORAD 44831 |
Magyar-OSCAR-105 2019-084J · Payload | Operator Budapesti Muszakies Gazdasagtudomanyi Egyetem (BME) | Built by Budapesti Muszakies Gazdasagtudomanyi Egyetem (BME) PocketQube 1P | Mass 0.3 kg | Orbit 155 × 169 km · 96.9° | Status Decayed 2020-09-28 | NORAD 44832 |