Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab to launch 4 Spire and NorthStar SSA satellites on January 27 (Updated)
Update – January 30, 2024: Rocket Lab has scrubbed the January 27 and its backup launch opportunity for January 28. The flight is now scheduled to liftoff on January 31, at the following times: 06:15 UTC, 01:15 ET, and 22:15 PT.
The weather is clearing up and so we’re moving forward with our launch update for our 43rd Electron launch and our next recovery mission with @SpireGlobal and @NorthStarEandS!
Four Of A Kind launch window opens tomorrow:
Jan 31, UTC | 06:15
Jan 31, NZDT | 19:15
Jan 31, ET |… pic.twitter.com/KojrXfXEfw— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 29, 2024
Initial Story:
Rocket Lab, an aerospace launch and service provider, announced a new mission to send 4 Spire and NorthStar SAA satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The mission is set for January 27, 2023, with a 45-minute launch window at 6:15 UTC and 01:15 ET. It was previously planned for January 18-19 but rescheduled to this new date. There might be new changes based on the launch scenarios and weather.
There are also backup launch opportunities but the company has not shared any specific date for the time being. The Electron launch vehicle will be vertical at PAD B of Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.
🚀Launch Update 🚀
To allow time for final pre-launch checkouts, and account for an incoming weather system, we are now targeting no earlier than 27 January NZT for the launch of ‘Four Of A Kind’ for @spireglobal and @northstarEandS.
Launch Window Opens:
UTC | 06:15 (27 Jan)… pic.twitter.com/lDn0jehpoW— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 17, 2024
Mission Details
The Electron rocket, used in this mission, is 18 meters tall, 1.2 meters wide, and includes 2 + a kick stage. It can carry a payload of 320kg/440 lbm. Stage 1 produces 5600 LBF of thrust with each of 9 Rutherford engines.
The second stage has 1 Rutherford vacuum engine with 5800lbf thrust to lead the payload into orbit.
Following a stage separation, the booster rocket will return to Earth with a parachute splashdown within several hundred kilometers of Launch Complex 1. The booster will be recovered by a recovery vessel.
Satellites:
These are four Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellites for Spire Global Inc. customer NorthStar Earth & Space. NorthStar’s satellites are built and operated by Spire and designed to simultaneously monitor all near-Earth orbits from space. These satellites aim to deliver an enhanced level of SSA services.
These satellites also promise to provide accurate information for space object detection, tracking, orbit determination, collision avoidance, navigation, and proximity alerts.
Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Payload with 4 SSA satellites from Spire and Northstar (image source – Rocket Lab)
Where to watch
The live stream of the 4 Spire and NorthStar SSA satellites launch will be broadcast on the official Rocket Lab website.