There is something tantalizingly poetic about the collision of art and science, when the echoes of ancient mythology fuse with the ultramodern reality of space technology. This week was laced with such poetry as California-based, Rocket Lab, known for their specialty in launching small satellites into orbit, embarked on an extraordinary mission with a Japanese satellite. Rising from the earthly confines of Rocket Lab's complex on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, this mission was appropriately christened “The Moon God Awakens,” pre-empting the legend it was about to unfold.
Earlier in the week, the storyline was punctuated with suspenseful anticipation. The mission was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but like an intriguing plot twist, was postponed due to forecast strong winds. Then, the defining moment arrived. At the edge of twilight, the Electron rocket launched at 5:06 p.m. local time (0406 GMT), piercing the shroud of the impending night sky, and setting the stage for its celestial ballet.
