Project officials hoped the new launcher, essentially a souped - up sounding rocket, would provide a low - cost launch option for small satellites,
including cubesats, which are becoming increasingly popular with universities and government agencies.
On its fifth flight, for instance, Rocket Lab is scheduled to carry 10 NASA - funded
CubeSats that will
include experiments to monitor space weather and Earth's radiation belts, and conduct technology demonstrations for solar sails and on - orbit repairs.