File:Phasing orbits approach to escape trajectory and typical trajectory correction maneuvers are used to target entry interface at Venus (Rocket Lab Mission to Venus).webp

English: "Electron first delivers high-energy Photon to a circular parking orbit (Figure 4) around Earth at roughly 165 km. After separating from Electron’s Stage 2, high-energy Photon performs preprogrammed burns to establish a preliminary elliptical orbit of 250 km by ~1200 km. High-energy Photon then performs a series of burns through increasingly elliptical orbits, each time raising the apogee altitude while maintaining a nearly constant perigee, reaching a maximum apogee of roughly 70,000 km. Breaking the departure across multiple maneuvers is an efficient approach to Earth escape. By holding burns close to perigee and limiting their duration, propulsive energy is efficiently spent raising apogee while avoiding the burn losses associated with long duration maneuvers. Each phasing maneuver is followed by a planned number of phasing orbits at the new apogee altitude. Phasing orbits provide time for on-orbit navigation, maneuver reconstruction and planning, propulsion system calibration, and conjunction screening. Each planned maneuver includes contingency options to mitigate conjunction events or missed maneuvers. After the nominal apogee raising maneuvers are performed, a final injection burn is executed to place high-energy Photon on the escape trajectory. Trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) using the Hyper Curie engine or integrated RCS are used to make fine adjustments to the trajectory and target the appropriate entry interface."