“Rocket Lab’s 17m (56ft) Electron rocket took off from the Mahia Peninsula, in North Island, the firm said on Twitter. The test flight was the first launch ever from New Zealand and is a major first step in an emerging market; launching cheap disposable rockets to carry small satellites and other cargo. The company plans to start frequent commercial launches later this year. Poor weather conditions had pushed the launch into the fourth day of a 10-day window and the Electron finally took off at 16:20 local time (04:20 GMT).”