Rocket Lab to Launch NOAA-supported Argos-4 Spacecraft for General Atomics to Support Environmental Monitoring From Space
September 19 2022 - 07:30AM
Business Wire
The mission will deploy the Argos-4 Advanced
Data Collection System (A-DCS) bringing the total number of
satellites delivered to space by Rocket Lab to 151.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, announced
that it will launch a dedicated Electron mission for General
Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS).
Electron is scheduled to launch the “It Argos Up From Here”
mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand
during a launch window that opens October 5 UTC.
The “It Argos Up From Here” mission will launch the GA-EMS
designed and manufactured satellite carrying the A-DCS hosted
payload. The A-DCS mission is supported by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Data and Rescue
Services Program, which arranged the launch through the Hosted
Payload Solutions contract vehicle administered by the U.S. Space
Force’s Space Systems Command.
“We are looking forward to completing the final milestones
toward a launch countdown, as we grow closer to delivering NOAA’s
latest environmental data collection and monitoring capabilities on
orbit,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “Rocket Lab’s
ability to provide us with a dedicated launch solution, and their
demonstrated success in deploying small satellites into targeted
low Earth orbit destinations complements GA-EMS’ commitment to
offering efficient, reliable solutions that meet our customer’s
unique mission requirements.”
Argos is an international program that collects data from some
18,000 transmitters operating around the globe, serving a host of
applications including tracking of buoys, fishing vessels and
wildlife; collection of environmental data such as ocean
temperature profiles, river levels and animal heart rates; and
observation of ocean parameters such as currents, temperature and
color.
“The Argos international satellite system has been delivering
crucial environmental data from space for more than 40 years, so
we’re very proud to support this important legacy and ensure its
resilience by providing reliable, dedicated launch services,” said
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. “We’re delighted to be
working with the team at General Atomics to make this important
mission possible. The mission ultimately serves to better monitor
and protect the environment on Earth, we’ll be doing our part to
ensure environmental sustainability in space by once again
performing an orbit lowering burn with the Kick Stage after payload
deployment to rapidly accelerate the Kick Stage’s de-orbit time,
avoiding creating long term space debris.”
+ 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 and the Photon satellite platform and is
developing the Neutron 13-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 150 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 second launch site in
Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in 2022. To
learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
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+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Mike Atchue
media@rocketlabusa.com
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