Rocket Lab is preparing to launch the second
half of NASA’s TROPICS satellite constellation as early as May 22,
just two weeks after successfully completing the first launch
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, is preparing
for the second of two dedicated Electron launches to deploy a
constellation of storm monitoring satellites for NASA.
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the full release here:
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Electron lifts off from Launch Complex 1
for the 'Rocket Like a Hurricane' launch to deploy satellites for
NASA's TROPICS constellation. (Photo: Business Wire)
The launch, called ‘Coming To A Storm Near You,’ is scheduled
for lift-off no earlier than 17:30 on May 22nd NZST from Rocket Lab
Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The launch
follows on from the successful ‘Rocket Like a Hurricane’ Electron
launch on May 8th 2023, which deployed the first two CubeSats of
NASA’s TROPICS constellation. The ‘Coming To A Storm Near You’
launch will deploy the final two TROPICS CubeSats, completing the
constellation.
The TROPICS constellation (Time-Resolved Observations of
Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of
Smallsats) will monitor the formation and evolution of tropical
cyclones, including hurricanes, and will provide rapidly updating
observations of storm intensity. This data will help scientists
better understand the processes that affect these high-impact
storms, ultimately leading to improved modeling and prediction. The
constellation, which is part of NASA’s Earth System Science
Pathfinder Program, consists of four CubeSats that require launch
to a specific orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers and
inclination of about 30 degrees. All four satellites need to be
deployed into their operational orbit within a 60-day period.
“We’re immensely proud to have successfully deployed the first
two TROPICS satellites into their precise orbits and are now
looking forward to delivering one more launch to complete the
constellation ahead of storm season. Rocket Lab has an established
track record of delivering back-to-back missions just days apart,
enabling us to comfortably deliver on the tight launch timeline
requirements for TROPICS,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter
Beck. “TROPICS aims to equip scientists and researchers with more
accurate and timely storm data to provide better forecasts and
advance warning to those in the path of devastating cyclones and
hurricanes. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with launching the
mission and we’re grateful for the continued support from the teams
at NASA and MIT Lincoln Laboratory for the next launch.”
‘Coming To A Storm New You’ will be Rocket Lab’s fifth Electron
mission for 2023 and the Company’s 37th launch overall since Rocket
Lab’s first Electron launch in 2017. The TROPICS launches follow on
from previous successful Electron missions for NASA, including the
ELaNa-19 mission and CAPSTONE mission to the Moon and marks the
first set of successful launches under the agency’s VADR
(Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare)
contract.
The live launch webcast will be available at
www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream from around T-20 minutes on launch
day. Follow Rocket Lab on Twitter @RocketLab for real time mission
updates.
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, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, 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, the Photon satellite platform and the
Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. 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 161
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 and a third pad
in Virginia. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.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 Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
contained in this press release, including statements regarding any
expectations of financial results, strategy, future operations,
future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and
objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Words
such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,”
“contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,”
“predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,”
“target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or
the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These
forward-looking statements 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 release, including risks related
to 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 launch vehicles, spacecraft and components
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; risks that
acquisitions do not achieve the anticipated benefits and results;
and the other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”),
including under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rocket Lab’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022,
which was filed with the SEC on March 7, 2023, and elsewhere. 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.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005794/en/
Rocket Lab Media Contact Morgan Bailey
media@rocketlabusa.com
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