But while 3D-printed engines and carbon composite propellant tanks are pretty much a sure bet for future generations of rockets, Electron’s engine technology might be looking at a much shorter life.

On the space exploration market since 2006, this crew has been at it launching stuff into orbit for paying customers using a small rocket called Electron ... a new kind of engine called Archimedes.

Rocket Lab doesn’t perform vertical landings like SpaceX. Electron simply wouldn’t have the fuel capacity required for an engine relight after launch. Instead, Rocket Lab’s Electron boosters ...