Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 Overview

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, also known as Mahia Launch Complex or Spaceport, is a commercial spaceport located near Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of Māhia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island. Owned and operated by private spaceflight company Rocket Lab, the complex supports launches of the Electron rocket, primarily for CubeSat nanosatellites. Officially opened on 26 September 2016, it became notable as the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt and subsequently the first to achieve a successful orbital launch. The facility is unique for its location on a raised plateau, surrounded by cliffs and accessible via a single road, offering ideal conditions for high-frequency launches with minimal air traffic interference.