We're back on the pad at LC-1 with our next launch attempt for Electron's 98th mission - "We're Not Hawking Around" for @hawkeye360 Launch window opens: 🚀8:00pm NZDT 🚀07:00 UTC 🚀3:00 am EDT 🚀00:00 am PDT

It's being built to take a beating. Upgrading from our heritage high temperature ceramic ramp, the new facility features a stainless steel, water-cooled ramp to absorb the extreme heat and force of engine exhaust, test after test. And it's designed for all-weather testing, meaning a predictable test cadence come rain, wind, or shine.

Demand for Electron and HASTE missions continues to grow and our manifest has never been busier. To increase launch cadence, streamlining production and test operations is key. The new facility will cut stack test time in half, from 2–3 days down to less than a day.

First, what's a stack test? Before Electron's first or second stage flies, we fire it here on Earth as an integrated system, with Rutherford engines igniting and plumbing and avionics all working together just as they will on launch day. This process is called a static fire or a stack test. It’s one of the final tests before we move into wet dress rehearsal on the launch pad in Wallops or Mahia, and then onto launch day.  Every single Electron and HASTE rocket launched so far have been through this process. (This video features the existing stack facility, not the new one)

High cadence launch needs high cadence testing. With more than 100 launches in backlog (and counting), we're building a new state-of-the-art test facility to accelerate static fire stack testing for Electron and HASTE rockets. Check out the new test pad underway within our Propulsion Test Complex 🧵👇