[ad_1] Normally, once the Kick Stage does its job, Rocket Lab de-orbits it to burn up in the atmosphere. However, this time it sent a command that switched it into Photon satellite mode to continue on a standalone mission called “First Light.” Intended as a demonstration, it’s equipped with solar panels and a camera that […]
Category: rocket lab
Rocket Lab gains FAA approval to launch missions from the US
[ad_1] Rocket Lab is on a roll this week. After successfully returning to launch following a failure in July, the company announced that it has received FAA clearance to launch small satellites from its Electron rockets in the US. So far, all its missions have flown from the Launch Complex 1 (LC-1) facility in New […]
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket makes successful return to flight
[ad_1] The Electron booster’s payload was the “Sequoia” satellite from San Francisco-based Capella Space. The mission was called “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical,” because the satellite uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and not optical lenses to provide detailed Earth images. “Capella’s space-based radar can detect sub-0.5 meter changes on the surface of the Earth, […]
Rocket Lab will resume launches no sooner than August 27th
[ad_1] If all goes according to plan, Rocket Lab will resume flights less than two months after an “anomaly” led to an Electron rocket failing shortly after launch, destroying its payload in the process. The company eventually pinpointed an electrical connection as the cause. A fast turnaround might have been necessary. While Rocket Lab had […]
Rocket Lab will resume missions in August following launch failure
[ad_1] In its announcement, Rocket Lab said that it was able to gather the data it needs, because the vehicle was unharmed and was able to continue sending information to its ground team. It also explained that it wasn’t able to detect the issue before the flight, because the electrical connection remained secure throughout testing. […]
Rocket Lab mission fails shortly after launch
[ad_1] The rocket had been carrying payloads for three customers, most notably Canon. It was supposed to be demonstrating an Earth imaging camera system ahead of plans for mass production. Planet was expanding its giant constellation of Earth observation satellites, while In-Space was launching its first cubesat mission as part of an initiative to help […]
Watch Rocket Lab launch a Canon satellite into space at 5:19PM ET
[ad_1] Public fireworks shows may be in short supply this weekend due to the pandemic, but Rocket Lab is ready to fill the gap. It’s planning to launch its 13th mission, “Pics Or It Didn’t Happen,” from a complex on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 5:19PM Eastern with a livestream (below) available 15 minutes before […]
Rocket Lab proves it can recover a rocket in mid-air
[ad_1] Next, Rocket Lab will attempt to recover a full Electron first stage following a launch. It won’t pull that from the air but will retrieve the rocket stage after it lands in the ocean. A parachute will help slow its descent, and like previous versions, it will include instrumentation to “inform future recovery efforts.” […]
Rocket Lab will launch a NASA cubesat to the Moon
[ad_1] The tiny satellite (it weighs just 55lbs) will first conduct a navigation demo with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, but it’s ultimately meant to be a “pathfinder” that will help the Artemis program’s Gateway spacecraft safely approach the Moon. This deal isn’t surprising given the current NASA administration’s privatization efforts. At the same time, it […]
Rocket Lab’s Photon platform makes it easier to launch satellites
[ad_1] Photon can handle missions lasting as long as five years in low Earth orbit, with payloads up to 375lbs depending on the configuration and its flight path. Its communications aren’t exactly blazing fast at 512Kbps, but it can hold up to 1TB of data. You won’t have to wait too long to see Photon […]