Research and Commercial Payloads

Rocket Lab provides a launch platform for scientists to access space to conduct a variety of different experiments and research programs. Ātea-1 can take a space payload up to 1.5 kg and Ātea -2 up to 70 kg.

Micro Gravity

Micro gravity offers a unique environment for research.

Protein Crystal Growth (Pharmaceuticals)

Crystals tend to grow larger and more uniformly in micro gravity, thus facilitating their analysis by x-ray diffraction.

Development of New Materials (Materials Science)

The micro gravity environment allows for the production of materials that are impossible to form on Earth. A prominent example is ZBLAN. ZBLAN is a theoretical material that could produce fibre optic cables with 100 times more capacity than today’s current cables. However, Earth-based processing has been unsuccessful to date due to the effect of gravity.

Semiconductor Production

Crystalline materials such as silicon can be produced in higher purity in the space environment and have successfully been demonstrated on sounding rocket flights.

Component Research and Testing

Sounding rockets offer a low-cost solution to 'space qualify' components and space systems.

Combustion Science

Sounding rockets offer an ideal platform for new areas of combustion science such as scram jets (supersonic ram jet engines). In addition, the absence of an atmosphere offers very different combustion behaviours for developments of new propulsion systems.

Solar Physics

Solar physics is the study of the Sun. Understanding the Sun will help answer many of the questions relating to the origins of the Universe as well as understanding the effects of space weather on planet Earth.

Climate Change

Commercial Payloads

View information about launching ashes into space for a memorial spaceflight or contact us for your commercial payload requirements.

Payload Enquiries

Contact us if you'd like to discuss your specific payload requirements further or view further information about Rocket Lab's programs.

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