That's Not A Knife

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2026-02-28 00:00:00 | |

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| | Scheduled for (EST) | 2026-02-27 19:00:00 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-2, Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron (HASTE) | | Customer | Hypersonix Launch Systems | | Payload | DART AE | | Mass | 300 kg | | Target orbit | Suborbital |

| Stream | Link | |

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| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQru-Ol7DWU | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPizYVXcn_s | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h2RBkuHOzI | | Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAstronaut/streams |

Stats

• 3rd launch for Rocket Lab in 2026.
• 82nd overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

DART AE (Cassowary Vex)

DART AE, produced by Hypersonix, is a three-metre-long, single-use, high-temperature alloy, hydrogen-fuelled, scramjet technology demonstrator. DART AE (Additive Engineering) makes significant use of 3D printing and is powered by a single patented 3D printed SPARTAN scramjet engine.

The HASTE rocket will safely bring DART AE to its initial operating speed, allowing DART AE to demonstrate its non-ballistic flight patterns, acceleration, flexible engine burns, and up to 1000 km range, and collect valuable flight data from its journey at hypersonic speed.

Previous mission: Bridging The Swarm

Next mission: Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed