In the vast and rapidly evolving landscape of modern spaceflight, Rocket Lab has carved out a unique and ambitious role. While much of the world’s attention has focused on heavy-lift rockets and crewed missions, Rocket Lab took a different path, one centered on agility, frequency, and innovation in the field of small satellite launches. Since the inaugural flight of Electron in 2017, the company has launched dozens of missions from New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula and, more recently, from U.S. soil as well, becoming a trusted partner in commercial, scientific, and defense-related satellite deployment.
 | Use the navigation bar to share the eBook, download it, zoom in or out, switch to full screen view, and search within the content. Want to read the eBook on your mobile phone? Scan the QR code and enjoy! |
With each Electron mission, Rocket Lab has also continued a tradition beloved by space historians and enthusiasts: the mission patch. These patches, distinctively named and often infused with humor, cultural references, or mission-specific symbolism, have become an integral part of the company’s identity. Each patch tells a story about the mission it represents, reflecting the playful yet precise spirit that defines Rocket Lab.
Unlike the more formal aesthetic of traditional space programs, Rocket Lab’s patches have a unique voice. With names like Still Testing, It’s Business Time, Pics or It Didn’t Happen, and Running Out of Toes, the Electron missions have injected a new tone into the world of launch branding, irreverent yet meaningful, clever but never careless. The patches themselves are beautifully crafted, often incorporating intricate design elements that nod to payloads, customers, or technological milestones. This book captures each of them in high quality, accompanied by key mission context and a visual sense of Rocket Lab’s evolution as a launch provider.