New Mahia rocket launch attempt today scrubbed due to high winds

Rocket Lab has called off another rocket launch attempt, due to high upper level winds.

High winds and scattered showers have been a problem in Mahia all day.

"The day opened as a no-go for launch due to high shear winds, however initial data indicated weather conditions could improve slightly to allow for a launch attempt as the day progressed," a Rocket Lab spokesperson said.

The launch was called off just before 3:30pm, after the weather failed to improve.

A launch attempt on Tuesday was abandoned due to rising liquid oxygen (LOx) temperatures feeding into one of the Electron's nine engines.

The rocket that was near the end of its two-minute launch sequence from its pad on the Mahia Peninsula when it was halted. Its nine Rutherford engines were scheduled to ignite at two seconds from lift-off.

The company said the slight LOx temperature increase was a result of a ''LOx chill-down bleed schedule'' that was not compatible with the warm weather.

While the temperatures were within safe parameters for launch, Rocket Lab had set conservative parameters for test flights that led to the vehicle performing a safe auto-sequence abort.

Founder and chief executive Peter Beck said the rapid abort showed the advantage of electric-turbopump engine technology, which could shut down significantly faster than traditional turbopump engines.

"Electron performed as it should if it detects anything off-nominal during the auto-sequence and the electric turbopumps shut down in milliseconds.''

The next launch attempt will be after 2:30pm on Friday, the Rocket Lab spokesperson said.