To ensure the constellation is in orbit for the
2023 storm season, Rocket Lab will launch NASA’s four TROPICS
satellites from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand across two
dedicated Electron missions in May
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, today
announced it will launch NASA’s TROPICS constellation across two
dedicated Electron missions lifting off from Launch Complex 1 in
New Zealand next month.
The TROPICS constellation (Time-Resolved Observations of
Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of
Small Sats) 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 effect these high-impact
storms, ultimately leading to improved modelling and prediction.
The two missions are expected to launch within approximately two
weeks of each other in May 2023. The first launch, named ‘Rocket
Like a Hurricane,’ is expected to launch as soon as May 1 NZST (30
April EDT) and the second mission, named ‘Coming to a Storm Near
You,’ is expected to follow around May 16 NZST (May 15 EDT).
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,
making Electron the ideal launch vehicle as it enables dedicated
launch to unique orbits on highly responsive timelines. The two
missions were initially scheduled to lift-off from Launch Complex 2
at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight
Facility in Virginia but will now take place at Launch Complex 1 in
New Zealand to support a Q2 launch window that will see the
satellites reach orbit in time for the North American 2023
hurricane season.
“The need for improved climate and weather data from space is
acute and growing. Hurricanes and tropical storms have a
devastating effect on lives and livelihoods, so we’re immensely
proud to be entrusted by NASA to launch the TROPICS missions which
will enable scientists and researchers to accurately predict storm
strength and give people time to evacuate and make plans,” said
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. “With the 2023 hurricane
season fast approaching, time is of the essence for these missions.
Because we operate three launch pads across two countries, we can
constantly assess the launch manifest and adapt launch schedules
and locations based on customer and mission requirements.”
“The ability to advance our understanding of tropical cyclones
from space has been limited by the ability to take frequent
measurements, particularly from microwave instruments that see into
the storms,” says Will McCarty, Program Scientist for the TROPICS
Mission. “Historically, satellites have been too large and
expensive to provide observations at a time-frequency that is
consistent with the timescales at which tropical cyclones can
evolve. The CubeSat era has allowed for smaller, less expensive
satellites. With modern small satellite design, we designed a
constellation that optimizes the scientific utility of the mission
in a way that we can launch in a cost-effective manner. These
factors enable TROPICS to provide a new understanding of tropical
cyclones by decreasing the time by which a given storm is revisited
by the satellites.”
Rocket Lab was selected to launch the TROPICS missions as part
of NASA’s Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare
(VADR) launch services contract.
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 release, including statements regarding our
expectations of financial results for first quarter 2023, 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 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. 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
+ 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 155
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 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within the NASA
Wallops Flight Facility. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005386/en/
+ Rocket Lab Morgan Bailey media@rocketlabusa.com
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024