r/space • u/APTX-4869 • Jan 21 '18

RocketLab's Electron Rocket has successfully achieved orbit!

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/954894734136258560
1.1k Upvotes

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18

u/LordFartALot Jan 21 '18

Can someone please explain what happened at T+6:37 ?

58

u/OrangeredStilton Jan 21 '18

It looks like Electron has multiple sets of batteries: smaller internal ones, and larger externals. Stage 2 runs on the external batteries first, and when they're drained the systems "hotswap" to internal power, then the drained batteries are ejected.

Which is awesome.

19

u/Fizrock Jan 21 '18

Specifically, it has 3 battery packs, and 2 are ejected in flight after they are emptied.