Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) today announced its upcoming
30th Electron launch will deliver its 150th payload and 300th
Rutherford engine to space. The mission is a dedicated launch for
Japanese Earth-imaging satellite constellation operator
Synspective.
“The Owl Spreads Its Wings” mission is scheduled to lift-off
from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a
launch window opening in mid-September. The mission is the second
of a bulk buy of three Electron launches by Synspective to deliver
their StriX satellites to low Earth orbit. StriX-1 is Synspective’s
first commercial satellite for its synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
satellite constellation to deliver imagery that can detect
millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space,
independent of weather conditions on Earth and at any time of the
day or night. “The Owl Spreads Its Wings” will be Rocket Lab’s
third mission for Synspective after successful launches in December
2020 and February 2022.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says: “From launching
Synspective’s first demonstration spacecraft to now helping to
build their SAR constellation with this launch of their first
commercial StriX satellite, it’s an honor to once again be the
trusted launch partner for Synspective. As the sole payload on this
dedicated Electron launch, Synspective are able to build their
constellation to a specific LTAN (Local Time of the Ascending Node)
that couldn’t be achieved if StriX was launched on a rideshare
mission with other satellites – a highly important differentiator
when building a new satellite constellation.”
The mission for Synspective will mark a series of company
milestones for Rocket Lab.
30th Electron launch
“The Owl Spreads Its Wings” mission will be Rocket Lab’s 30th
launch of its Electron rocket. From its first launch in 2017,
Electron quickly made regular and reliable launch to space
accessible for small satellites. As the United States’ second
most-frequently launched rocket, with this mission Electron will
have successfully launched to orbit more times in 2022 than all
other small launch providers combined.
150th satellite to orbit
The single StriX-1 satellite manifested on this Electron launch
will bring Rocket Lab’s tally of satellites delivered to orbit to
150 – a quarter of those delivered to space in the past three
months alone, including the CAPSTONE satellite to the Moon for NASA
and spacecraft conducting Earth-imaging, technology demonstrations,
marine monitoring, space junk removal tests, and internet
connectivity.
300th Rutherford engine
This mission will see Rocket Lab reach 300 Rutherford engines
launched to space. Designed and built by Rocket Lab, Rutherford is
the world’s first 3D-printed, electric pump-fed rocket engine.
Rutherford engines are used as both first and second stage engines
on Electron and have been integral to the rocket’s success as the
industry’s premier small launch vehicle. Developed in 2013 and
first test fired within the same year, Rutherford’s unique design
was driven by Rocket Lab’s desire to create a reliable and
high-performing rocket engine that could be produced in high
volume, reliably, and efficiently.
“The Owl Spreads Its Wings” launch details:
- Launch Window Opens: mid-September, 2022
- Launch vehicle: Electron
- Customer: Synspective
- Launch site: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Pad B
- Mission type: Dedicated
- Payload: StriX-1
Real-time mission updates can be found on Rocket Lab’s Twitter
@rocketlab and via www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission
+ Images & Video Content https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzPrHL
+ About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) is a global leader in space,
delivering proven and reliable space services spanning launch,
spacecraft manufacture, satellite subsystems, flight software, and
on-orbit operations. Since 2018, the company’s Electron rocket has
delivered proven and reliable launch for civil, national security,
defense, and commercial customers, deploying more than 149
satellites to orbit. Building on the achievements of Electron,
Rocket Lab is developing a next generation large reusable launch
vehicle, Neutron, designed for constellation deployment, cargo
resupply, interplanetary missions. Rocket Lab also develops
mission-ready spacecraft and satellite subsystems. More than 1,700
spacecraft on orbit feature Rocket Lab technology including space
solar power, radios, separation systems, propulsion, flight
software, star trackers, and reaction wheels. Headquartered in Long
Beach, California, Rocket Lab operates three launch pads at two
launch sites across New Zealand and Virginia, and has operations in
Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, and Toronto. 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 our
strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected
costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including
without limitation Q1 2022 guidance, 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 press release, including risks
related to the global COVID-19 pandemic; 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 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 may not be completed on the anticipated time frame or
at all or 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, 2021, which was
filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022, 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. You should read this press release with the
understanding that our actual results may be materially different
from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the
forward looking statements we make. All forward looking statements
are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
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/20220815005680/en/
+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
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