Rocket Lab to Launch Pair of Satellites for BlackSky from New Zealand Just Days After Successful Launch from Virginia
March 17 2023 - 04:15PM
Business Wire
The mission, Rocket Lab’s 8th mission for
BlackSky Global, is scheduled to lift-off from Launch Complex 1 in
New Zealand just six days after a successful mission from Launch
Complex 2 in Virginia.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, announced
that it will launch a pair of satellites on a dedicated Electron
mission for BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY) through global launch services
provider Spaceflight, Inc., during a launch window opening March
22, 2023 UTC.
The mission, named “The Beat Goes On,” will launch two of
BlackSky’s Gen-2 Earth-imaging satellites from Pad B at Rocket Lab
Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand and will bring the total
number of satellites delivered by Electron to orbit to 159.
Electron will deliver the satellites to a circular 450KM orbit,
which will bring the total number of satellites in BlackSky’s
constellation to 16.
As a secondary mission, Rocket Lab plans to recover Electron’s
first stage after it parachutes back to Earth and splashes down in
the ocean. Rocket Lab’s recovery team will retrieve Electron using
a customized vessel and transport the stage back to Rocket Lab’s
production complex for analysis. Data from this recovered stage
will inform Rocket Lab’s ongoing recovery and reuse program.
Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive Peter Beck says: “We’re
proud to continue playing a key role in building out BlackSky’s
growing constellation. We’ve now delivered 9 satellites to orbit
for BlackSky since our first launch for them in 2019 and we’re
grateful to have been entrusted with their mission once again.
Counting down to another mission just six days after a successful
launch from LC-2 in Virginia is no mean feat and testament to our
team’s experience and dedication to delivering response
launch.”
The pair of high-resolution, multi-spectral, Gen-2 satellites to
be launched on Electron will expand BlackSky’s network in space and
its offering of real-time geospatial intelligence and monitoring
services. BlackSky combines high-resolution images captured by its
constellation of microsatellites with its proprietary artificial
intelligence software to deliver analytics and insights to
industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use,
defense, supply chain management, and humanitarian aid.
+ 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 157 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 launch pad in
Virginia, USA. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230317005372/en/
+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Mike Atchue
media@rocketlabusa.com
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Oct 2023
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2022 to Oct 2023