Rocket Lab Sets Date for 51st Electron Mission with Synspective Satellites

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 25 July 2024 16:11

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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 25, 2024

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the launch window for its 51st Electron mission, set to deploy the latest satellite for long-term customer Synspective. The "Owl for One, One for Owl" mission will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, during a 14-day window starting on July 31st NZST / July 30th UTC. This mission will place a single StriX satellite

Rocket Lab Sets Date for 51st Electron Mission with Synspective Satellites
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 25, 2024

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the launch window for its 51st Electron mission, set to deploy the latest satellite for long-term customer Synspective.

The "Owl for One, One for Owl" mission will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, during a 14-day window starting on July 31st NZST / July 30th UTC. This mission will place a single StriX satellite into low Earth orbit, utilizing Electron's Kick Stage for an advanced mid-mission maneuver to shield the satellite from the sun, reducing radiation exposure.

This launch marks the fifth of 16 total Electron launches for Synspective, a Japanese Earth observation company building a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. These satellites are designed to capture imagery that can detect millimetre-level changes on Earth's surface from space. Rocket Lab has been the exclusive launch provider for Synspective's constellation, reflecting a strong and trusted partnership. This relationship was further reinforced by a new contract in June 2024 for ten dedicated Electron launches scheduled from 2025 to 2027.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, commented, "Synspective's long-standing trust in the team to build out their constellation is recognition of Electron's continued dominance as the ultimate small launch vehicle for the industry. Schedule flexibility, a reliable rocket launching more and more frequently, and our unique in-space capabilities that support mission needs are all critical functions at play in the multi-launch contracts being signed by our domestic and international launch customers. It's an honor to continue launching for Synspective through our ongoing partnership."

The "Owl for One, One for Owl" mission will be Rocket Lab's 51st Electron launch and ninth this year. Another launch for Synspective is planned before the end of 2024, along with additional missions for customers including space-based intelligence company BlackSky and French Internet-of-Things (IoT) company Kineis.