Electron - StriX-3 - Owl Night Long - 12/13 March 2024 (15:03 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://investors.rocketlabusa.com/news/news-details/2024/Rocket-Lab-Schedules-Launch-Date-for-45th-Electron-Mission-to-Deploy-Earth-Imaging-Satellite-for-Synspective/default.aspx

Rocket Lab Schedules Launch Date for 45th Electron Mission to Deploy Earth-Imaging Satellite for Synspective

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s fourth mission for Japanese constellation operator Synspective

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the launch window for its 45th Electron launch, 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 10th NZDT (March 9th UTC). The mission will lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and will deploy a StriX-3 satellite to orbit, continuing a multi-launch agreement to deliver Synspective’s StriX-series satellites to low Earth orbit.

Rocket Lab has been the exclusive launch provider for Synspective to date and the “Owl Night Long” mission will be Rocket Lab’s fourth launch for the constellation operator following launches in 2020 and 2022:

    The Owls’ Night Begins: Launched December 2020
    The Owl’s Night Continues: Launched February 2022
    The Owl Spreads its Wings: Launched September 2022

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.

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

Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, says: “I am delighted to be able to take on another challenge with the Rocket Lab team, who have led us to launch three satellites into their target orbits successfully. I also want to express my gratitude to the dedicated teams of both companies and everyone involved in the StriX-3 project. StriX-3 is our fourth satellite, enabling us to offer more data services to our new and existing customers. This year, we plan to expand our business through multiple launches, and StriX-3 will be the first satellite aimed at full-scale constellation operations. Through this launch, we will advance our understanding of the manufacturing process, enhance our satellite operation know-how, increase the volume of data supply, and strengthen our data analysis capabilities. To address all sustainable development challenges within our generation, we will push forward our analytics platform business, enabling societal progress through data-driven insights and collective learning.”

“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.

[mkent]

So far we’ve had Strix alpha, Strix beta, Strix-1, and now Strix-3.  What happened to Strix-2?

[Ken the Bin]

The Next Mission webpage has been updated: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

Mission Name: Owl Night Long
Rocket: Electron
Launch Date: 10 March 2024
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1
Launch Time: 03:00 am NZDT / 14:00 UTC (9 March)
Payload: StriX-1
Mission Overview

The “Owl Night Long” mission will lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and will deploy a StriX-3 satellite to orbit, continuing a multi-launch agreement to deliver Synspective’s StriX-series satellites to low Earth orbit.

Rocket Lab has been the exclusive launch provider for Synspective to date and the “Owl Night Long” mission will be Rocket Lab’s fourth launch for the constellation operator following launches in 2020 and 2022:

The Owls’ Night Begins: Launched December 2020

The Owl’s Night Continues: Launched February 2022

The Owl Spreads its Wings: Launched September 2022

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.

Note that in the summary information it says Strix-1 (which is wrong). Later it says Strix-3 (which is correct).

[Ken the Bin]

Note that in the summary information it says Strix-1 (which is wrong). Later it says Strix-3 (which is correct).

The webpage has been corrected.

Mission Name: Owl Night Long
Rocket: Electron
Launch Date: 10 March 2024
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1
Launch Time: 03:00 am NZDT / 14:00 UTC (9 March)
Payload: StriX-3

Also, attached is the mission patch that I forgot to attach to my previous post.

[Ken the Bin]

Press Kit: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/assets/Uploads/RL-Synspective-Owl-Night-Long-Press-Kit-v2.pdf

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1764387705872662706

Less than a week until the @synspective owl takes to the skies again.

rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-…

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1764387705872662706

Less than a week until the @synspective owl takes to the skies again.

http://rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

[cpushack]

Another custom bulgy fairing.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1765525409217806783

2 rockets, 2 pads, 2 hemispheres

Final launch rehearsals are underway at LC-1 and LC-2 for two dedicated Electron missions in March - 'Owl Night Long' for @synspective and 'Live & Let Fly' for @NatReconOfc

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching and Space Debris notices. It looks like the launch is pushed back a day, however Rocket Lab's Next Mission webpage is unchanged. There also is a pretty big gap between the start of the hazard period at 12:00 UTC and the start of Rocket Lab's announced launch window at 14:00 UTC.

070712Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 764/24(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   1200Z TO 1545Z DAILY 10 THRU 22 MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 39-26.82S 178-04.92E, 39-16.02S 178-04.86E,
      39-11.28S 177-46.98E, 39-24.36S 177-40.86E,
      39-58.08S 177-37.50E, 40-00.18S 177-48.06E.
   B. 43-24.00S 175-48.00E, 43-36.00S 177-18.00E,
      47-00.00S 176-48.00E, 46-45.00S 174-42.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 221645Z MAR 24.//

070701Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 763/24(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1200Z TO 1545Z DAILY 10 THRU 22 MAR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   52-42.00S 174-42.00E, 52-06.00S 172-06.00E,
   57-00.00S 169-54.00E, 57-36.00S 172-36.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 221645Z MAR 24.//

[GewoonLukas_]

3-day delay:

The wise owl knows to wait for optimal conditions before taking flight.

Our “Owl Night Long” mission for @Synspective has a new target launch date, allowing our teams to close out final launch preparations:

🦉NZDT | 03:00, March 13
🦉 PDT | 07:00, March 12
🦉 EDT | 10:00, March 12
🦉 UTC | 14:00, March 12

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1765932756293558605

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1767031426975977900

Another @synspective bird ready for launch on Electron 🦉

Mission info for our 45th launch: rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-…

[OneSpeed]

NGA Rocket Launching and Space Debris notices. ...

Map from the notices.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch stream:

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1767293385080250749

It’s ‘owl’ most time!

The weather is playing nice (for now) and we’re on track to launch the ‘Owl Night Long’ mission for @Synspective.

Target launch time:
🚀 03:13 am NZDT (March 13)
🚀 02:13 pm UTC (March 12)
🚀 10:13 am EDT (March 12)
🚀 07:13 am PDT (March 12)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1767529828046315740

Electron is looking frosty so you know what that means. LOx load is underway!

Lift off:
🚀 03:13 am NZDT
🚀 02:13 pm UTC
🚀 07:13 am PDT
🚀 10:13 am EDT

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1767541489339687042

Under an hour until lift-off for @synspective. We’ll be live with today’s launch webcast at around T-20 mins from launch youtube.com/live/GF9cWWkSl…

Target lift-off:
NZDT | 03:13
UTC | 14:13
PDT | 07:13
EDT | 10:13

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1767549409594835102

Launch update: we're adjusting today's T-0 slightly to account for weather.

New T-0:
NZDT | 04:03
UTC | 15:03
EDT | 11:03
PDT | 08:03

[Zed_Noir]

The Rocket Lab webcast is live. Announcer said Rocket Lab will try for the final launch opportunity today at 15:03 UTC.

(youtube ID:  GF9cWWkSlsQ  )

[trimeta]

Go-no go poll complete, mission is a go.