Rocket Lab to Launch Three Dedicated Electron Missions for Earth Imaging Company Synspective
December 07 2021 - 3:15PM
Business Wire
The missions follow on from the launch of
Synspective’s first satellite, StriX-α, by Rocket Lab in 2020
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:
RKLB), a leading launch provider and space systems company, has
today announced it has signed a deal with Japanese Earth imaging
company Synspective to carry out three dedicated Electron
launches.
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the full release here:
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Rocket Lab Electron Launch Vehicle
(Photo: Business Wire)
The first two missions are scheduled for lift-off from Rocket
Lab Launch Complex 1 in 2022, with a third to follow in 2023. Each
mission will deploy a single StriX satellite, growing Synspective’s
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation developed to deliver
imagery that can detect millimetre-level changes to the Earth’s
surface from space, independent of weather conditions on Earth and
at any time of the day or night.
These new missions follow on from Rocket Lab’s first launch for
Synspective in December 2020. The mission, named ‘The Owl’s Night
Begins’, saw Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle deploy the
StriX-α satellite – the first spacecraft in Synspective’s planned
constellation of more than 30 SAR satellites designed to collate
data of metropolitan centers on a daily basis to support urban
development planning, construction and infrastructure monitoring,
and disaster response. During ‘The Owl’s Night Begins’ mission
Rocket Lab performed an advanced mid-mission maneuver with its Kick
Stage to shield the StriX satellite from the sun to reduce
radiation exposure ahead of payload deployment. The Kick Stage will
once again perform the maneuver for the new upcoming missions.
Flying as a dedicated mission means the StriX satellites will be
the only payload on board Electron, giving Synspective control over
launch schedule and enabling specific LTANs1 not achievable when
flying as one of many satellites on large rideshare missions.
Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive, Peter Beck, says: “We’re
honored the Synspective team has once again chosen Electron to grow
their StriX constellation. We recognize the importance of dedicated
orbits and custom mission parameters for constellations, and we’re
delighted to deliver a tailored launch and integration service to
the Synspective team once again.”
Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, says: "It is a
great honor to collaborate with Rocket Lab, which is evolving from
a rocket venture pioneer to an experienced launch service provider
with the successful Strix-α deployment to orbit. We are very
grateful for their flexibility in accepting our requests on the
satellite’s orbit and launch period. Synspective has already begun
operating its first satellite and providing solution services, and
is now entering a phase of business expansion. StriX-β, the second
satellite following StriX-α, will demonstrate Interferometric SAR
(InSAR) technology in orbit and deepen satellite-operation
know-how, which are strengths in our business expansion. We will
accomplish this mission and steadily achieve results to enhance
global efficiency and resilience.”
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other
spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster,
easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long
Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron
small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and
is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since
its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron
launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S.
rocket annually and has delivered 107 satellites to orbit for
private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in
national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation,
Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket
Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA
missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private
commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at
two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital
launch site located in New Zealand, one of which is currently
operational, and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is
expected to become operational in early 2022. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.com.
About Synspective:
Synspective’s mission is to create a learning world where people
can expand their capabilities and make tangible progress with new
data and technologies. Synspective provides one-stop-solutions
using geospatial data from its own SAR satellites to create a
progressive world based on real data. Synspective is building a
constellation of its own small SAR satellites to provide data and
analytic information to governments and commercial outfits. For
more information, visit: https://synspective.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, including
without limitation expectations regarding the timing of scheduled
launches, are based on Rocket Lab’s current expectations and
beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects.
These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab’s control), or
other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in
this press release, including risks related to the global COVID-19
pandemic, including risks related to government restrictions and
lock-downs in New Zealand and other countries in which we operate
that could delay or suspend our operations; delays and disruptions
in expansion efforts; our dependence on a limited number of
customers; the harsh and unpredictable environment of space in
which our products operate which could adversely affect our launch
vehicle and spacecraft; increased congestion from the proliferation
of low Earth orbit constellations which could materially increase
the risk of potential collision with space debris or another
spacecraft and limit or impair our launch flexibility and/or access
to our own orbital slots; increased competition in our industry due
in part to rapid technological development and decreasing costs;
technological change in our industry which we may not be able to
keep up with or which may render our services uncompetitive;
average selling price trends; failure of our satellites to operate
as intended either due to our error in design in production or
through no fault of our own; launch schedule disruptions; supply
chain disruptions, product delays or failures; design and
engineering flaws; launch failures; natural disasters and epidemics
or pandemics; changes in governmental regulations including with
respect to trade and export restrictions, or in the status of our
regulatory approvals or applications; or other events that force us
to cancel or reschedule launches, including customer contractual
rescheduling and termination rights, and the other risks detailed
from time to time in Rocket Lab’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere
(including that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also
exacerbate the risks discussed therein). There can be no assurance
that the future developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those
that we have anticipated. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab is
not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
1 Local Time of the Ascending Node.
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Morgan Bailey media@rocketlabusa.com +64 27 538 9039
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
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