Window for third launch in two weeks

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Just days after launching its latest mission from Mahia, space company Rocket Lab says it will be back in action on March 10, as it aims to complete more than 20 launches this year.

Its 45th Electron rocket launch will be a dedicated mission for Synspective, a Japanese Earth-imaging satellite constellation operator.

The “Owl Night Long” mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on March 10 and will lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia.

The mission, Rocket Lab’s third launch of the year, will deploy a StriX-3 satellite to orbit, continuing a multi-launch agreement to deliver Synspective’s StriX-series satellites to low Earth orbit.

Synspective is a satellite data solutions provider with its own constellation of SAR satellites. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active system that transmits microwave pulses toward the Earth’s surface and receives the reflected signals to create an image of the target area. Unlike other imaging technologies, SAR can penetrate clouds and other atmospheric conditions, enabling it to collect data day or night with frequent revisit rates.

SAR data contain information that helps to understand the shape and physical properties of terrain and structures. Observing the same target under constant conditions makes it well-suited for time-series analysis and change detection, enabling the capture of ongoing economic and environmental changes.

By flying as a dedicated payload on Electron, Synspective has a high degree of control over the launch schedule and orbital deployment parameters.

Electron is also an ideal launch vehicle for the StriX constellation due to a unique Synspective deployment requirement. Electron’s Kick Stage performs an advanced mid-mission maneuver to shield the StriX satellite from the sun to reduce radiation exposure ahead of payload deployment, a level of mission customization not available on large rideshare missions.

“We’re excited to continue our strong partnership with Synspective having been their sole launch provider to date,” Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said.

“Electron delivers a tailored, customized launch service that offers Synspective a rare level of precision deployment to ensure their satellites are placed in perfect orbits on rapid timelines. We look forward to helping another owl take flight and expanding Synspective’s constellation.”

“Owl Night Long” will be Rocket Lab’s 3rd Electron launch in 2024 and more Synspective launches are planned as part of the multi-launch agreement.