Rocket Lab sends Acadia-3 SAR satellite to orbit

Sunday, August 11, 2024, Rocket Lab launched a new Electron rocket mission with an Acadia-3 SAR satellite payload to low-Earth orbit.

The 52nd electron mission lifted off from Launch Complex 1, Pad B Mahia, New Zealand. The satellite targeted a 615km circular earth orbit with 53 degrees inclination.

This mission themed “A Sky Full Of SARs” was the fifth mission for Capella Space among the multiple missions contracted for Rocket Lab since 2020.

Rocket Lab Lifting Off from Launch Complex 1, Pad B Mahia, New Zealand (Source – Rocket Lab)

The mission deployed Acadia-3, a new satellite to join Capella Space’s Synthetic Radar (SAR) satellite installation to provide high-quality and high-resolution SAR images globally.

These images could be used by industries around the globe including defense and intelligence, supply chain, insurance, maritime, and others. The satellite works well in different weather conditions including clouds, fog, smoke, and rain.

(source – RocketLab)