#spacecraft #astronomy 

![[Pasted image 20251220010215.png]]

The Ātea-1 was a small sounding rocket developed by [[Rocket Lab Corporation]].

## Characteristics
Ātea-1 was a **hybrid-fueled** single stage rocket with a non-propulsive dart payload, capable of launching **2 kg** payloads up to **150 km** altitude

The engine used a polymer-based fuel with liquid nitrous oxide ($\LARGE N_2O$)

The engine is capable of producing a peak thrust of ~6.9 kN for up to 14.5 s, resulting in a total impulse of approximately 99.9 kN$\LARGE \cdot$s.

Length: 6 m
Diameter: 15 cm
Total weight: 60 kg

First and only launch: 30 November, 2009 from Great Mercury Island, New Zealand, reaching a height of about 100 km

![[Rocket Lab Ātea-1 Launch - Wild Wild Space [eluW-KD9emc].mp4]]