WELLINGTON: A private New Zealand-based company joined the exclusive space-race club on Thursday with the successful launch of a Rocket Lab test craft named Electron. More to follow!” aerospace company Rocket Lab tweeted as New Zealand became the 11th country to launch into space. “In the past, it’s been countries that go to space, not companies,” said Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck. “New Zealand is now one of 11 countries able to launch satellites into space from their own territory and the first to launch from a fully private orbital launch range,” he said. The launch is the first of three planned tests before Rocket Lab begins providing customers commercial satellite opportunities.

Source: Manila Times May 25, 2017 10:18 UTC