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Rocket Lab launches Synspective Strix-3 satellite to orbit

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Rocket Lab launched Synspective’s Strix-3 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite into low earth orbit using the electron rocket. The launch took place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand under the “Owl Night Long”.

Strix is a small, low-cost SAR satellite that was jointly developed by Synspective, the University of Tokyo, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

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It features a foldable SAR antenna, increased power, and thermal control contributing to reducing the size of the satellite and providing imaging capability similar to a large SAR satellite.

Rocket Lab Electron Rocket

Image Credit: Rocket Lab

The satellite has a mass under 100kg class and it has a 5-meter antenna size and a mission life expectation of 5 years.

Strix-3 is the fourth SAR satellite, which follows StriX-α, StriX-β, and StriX-1 launched in December 2020, March, and September 2022 respectively.

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Compared to its predecessors, the Strix-3 can create and manage satellites using the same design as the StriX-1. Strix-3 will equip the satellite firm with this proficiency and facilitate continuous enhancement to make the assembly of the constellation considerably more efficient.

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Mel Trivalo is a senior author at EONMSK.com, he began his early career in electronics in 2021 and turned his attention towards Space and Rocket Science. Mel likes to explore new technologies and swings baseball to run through creative thoughts.