With Rocket Lab set out to provide low-cost, frequent access to space for the small satellite industry. They needed a lightweight, high-performance engine. The result was Rutherford. Using an electric-pump-fed cycle and burning refined kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX), each Rutherford produces 5.6 tons of thrust. It became the first electric-pump-fed rocket engine to reach orbit. With nine Rutherford engines on Electron’s first stage, Rocket Lab delivered on its vision making dedicated small satellite launches routine and affordable.