U.S. Space Force Awards Rocket Lab Launch Contract for Space Test Program (STP)-S30Apr 8, 2024Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”) today announced it has been awarded a $14.49 million task order by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to launch an Electron mission from Launch Complex 2. The mission, called Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30) falls under the Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization and is part of Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4).The dedicated Electron launch is scheduled to take place within 24 months from contract award and will lift off from Launch Complex 2, a dedicated pad for the Electron rocket at Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. STP-S30 is a complex mission that will deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the DoD and contribute to future space systems development. The projected primary payload, DISKSat, will demonstrate sustained very low earth orbit (VLEO) flight and test a unique, 1-meter diameter, disk-shaped satellite bus that is designed to increase on-orbit persistence.[...]
First DiskSats to take flight in 2025August 11, 2025[...]The four DiskSats that were expected to travel to orbit in 2026 though the Space Force Space Test Program are now set to launch by the end of 2025. The launch on a Rocket Lab Electron from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia was accelerated at the request of the customer, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.[...]During the upcoming flight, four DiskSats will be ejected from a scalable dispenser developed by Aerospace into an orbit of approximately 550 kilometers. One will fire onboard thrusters to move to a very low Earth orbit (VLEO).[...]
Final platform development efforts are moving quickly, with flight units on track to be ready by this October.
Capitalize on the advanced readiness of the payload and launch vehicle and accelerate the STP-S30 mission to demonstrate military utility in the underutilized Very Low Earth Orbit domain
Complete space-craft integration and launch readiness for STP-S29A (which includes STPSat-7), STP-S30, STP-5 and K2 Gravitas missions.
General / Hazards To Navigation / HazardsDISTRICT: 5TITLE: General / Hazards To Navigation / HazardsSUB CATEGORY: Hazards To NavigationTYPE: HazardsWATERWAY NAME: Sector Virginia, Territorial SeaDESCRIPTION: General / Hazards To Navigation / Hazards From: 2025-12-03 To: 2025-12-24 Location: 38-17-60.000N / 074-57-00.000W 38-06-00.000N / 074-34-59.880W 37-40-00.120N / 074-10-00.120W 37-01-59.880N / 072-49-59.880W 36-46-59.880N / 073-00-00.000W 37-30-00.000N / 075-22-59.880W 37-40-00.120N / 075-32-60.000W 37-49-59.880N / 075-31-59.880W 38-02-29.400N / 075-18-00.720W 38-17-60.000N / 074-57-00.000W The Launch Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, has advised that the areas in the Atlantic Ocean including the existing Danger Zone off Wallops Island and Chincoteague Inlet (depicted as 334.130) as shown on National Ocean Service Chart, will be hazardous to navigation because of a rocket launch during the periods and times. The test windows are: Primary:12 / 17 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 18 / 25 12:45AM EST Alternates:12 / 18 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 19 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 19 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 20 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 20 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 21 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 21 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 22 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 22 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 23 / 25 12:45AM EST Public ship avoidance area is in effect and bound by: 33 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-48.11N / 74-58.35W 27 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-25.62N / 74-15.37W 29 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-4.92N / 73-21.09W 90 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 35-47.33N / 69-49.6W 82 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 35-9.32N / 67-10.19W 122 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 29-56.71N / 57-40.28W 101 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 27-56.16N / 55-5.4W During the launch window, contact Wallops Plot via Marine Band (VHF) 12 and 22, or land line 757-824-1685. Outside the launch window contact [email protected]. MSI # 33235.DECIMAL LONGITUDE: nullDECIMAL LATITUDE: null
General / Hazards To Navigation / HazardsDISTRICT: 5TITLE: General / Hazards To Navigation / HazardsSUB CATEGORY: Hazards To NavigationTYPE: HazardsWATERWAY NAME: Sector North Carolina, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)DESCRIPTION: General / Hazards To Navigation / Hazards From: 2025-12-03 To: 2025-12-24 Location: 36-47-60.000N / 070-30-00.000W 35-36-00.000N / 065-30-00.000W 34-00-00.000N / 067-00-00.000W 35-30-00.000N / 071-30-00.000W 36-47-60.000N / 070-30-00.000W The Launch Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, has advised that the areas in the Atlantic Ocean including the existing Danger Zone off Wallops Island and Chincoteague Inlet (depicted as 334.130) as shown on National Ocean Service Chart, will be hazardous to navigation because of a rocket launch during the periods and times. The test windows are: Primary: 12 / 17 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 18 / 25 12:45AM EST Alternates: 12 / 18 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 19 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 19 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 20 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 20 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 21 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 21 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 22 / 25 12:45AM EST 12 / 22 / 25 07:45PM - 12 / 23 / 25 12:45AM ESTPublic ship avoidance area is in effect and bound by: 33 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-48.11N / 74-58.35W 27 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-25.62N / 74-15.37W 29 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 37-4.92N / 73-21.09W 90 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 35-47.33N / 69-49.6W 82 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 35-9.32N / 67-10.19W 122 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 29-56.71N / 57-40.28W 101 NAUTICAL MILE HAZARD AREA AT CENTER POINT 27-56.16N / 55-5.4W During the launch window, contact Wallops Plot via Marine Band (VHF) 12 and 22, or land line 757-824-1685. Outside the launch window contact [email protected]. MSI # 33236.DECIMAL LONGITUDE: nullDECIMAL LATITUDE: null
The launch of the very first DiskSat is approaching, and the team behind this versatile new satellite form factor is excited to see it take flight on a Rocket Lab Electron next week. The demonstration mission aims to show how the pizza-like shape could improve maneuverability, accelerate testing and design, and enable more efficient deployment of large constellations.
EasternShoreSpaceflight@EShoreSpacefltRocket Lab Electron launch update for Wallops Island, Virginia: STP-S30 (DiskSat). A few days ago, NAV warnings were posted, and today the TFRs are also posted. Looking forward to this launch, with the window opening December 18 at midnight Eastern Standard Time.
Next mission alert 🚨 Launching from Launch Complex 2 tomorrow will be our 20th Electron launch of the year: the STP-S30 mission for @USSF_SSC's Space Test Program.'Don't Be Such A Square' will deploy 4x DiskSats by @AerospaceCorp & @NASA to a 550km LEO from LC-2 at @Virginia_Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.Launch window opens:🚀 12:00 am ET, Dec 18🚀 9:00 pm PT, Dec 17🚀 05:00 UTC, Dec 18🚀 6:00 pm NZT, Dec 18
The Aerospace Corporation@AerospaceCorp·Launch date has been set 🚀 Aerospace’s first four DiskSats are being sent into orbit from Virginia on December 18 from 12am ET aboard Rocket Lab’s “Don’t Be Such A Square” Electron launch for the @USSpaceForce’s STP-S30 mission. Read the full announcement on our website: https://aerospace.org/press-release/stacked-pancakes-aerospace-corporations-disksats-ready-launch?utm_source=social&utm_medium=hootsuite&utm_campaign=commercial Follow the launch on Aerospace’s Instagram or watch the livestream on @RocketLab’s website, X or YouTube. For partnership and technology transfer opportunities, please reach out through our website: https://aerospace.org/disksat-end-users?utm_source=social&utm_medium=hootsuite&utm_campaign=commercial
Will Hall@will__hall1One happy-looking @RocketLab Electron on the way up. Tonight’s STP-S30 launch has a window from 12–1 a.m.
EasternShoreSpaceflight@EShoreSpaceflt·Rocket Lab's Electron rocket “Don’t Be Such a Square” is vertical at Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch window opens at midnight EST.
Rocket Lab@RocketLab·The countdown to liftoff has begun for our next Electron launch - this time from Launch Complex 2 for the @USSpaceForce and @USSF_SSC.'Don't Be Such A Square' will deploy the STP-S30 mission with 4x DiskSats by @AerospaceCorp & @NASA in T-5 hours.Launch window opens:🚀 12:00 am ET, Dec 18🚀 9:00 pm PT, Dec 17🚀 05:00 UTC, Dec 18🚀 6:00 pm NZT, Dec 18
NASA Ames@NASAAmesNASA’s DiskSat is gearing up to launch into low Earth orbit! Four plate-shaped spacecraft will demonstrate a new small spacecraft technology that aims to lower mission costs and expand access to space. The launch window opens Dec 18 at 12am ET. Live coverage from @RocketLab begins approximately 20 minutes before launch. Learn more: https://go.nasa.gov/4oWG6Vf
Dillon@Dillonshrop06·Hazard Map for STP-S30→https://bit.ly/48SPItV NET December 18 0500 UTC
Tyler Gray@TylerG1998·Final Touches. 🧰🪛#RocketLab technicians were hard at work getting Electron ready to go for the launch of “Don’t Be Such A Square” from LC-2 at Wallops later this evening. @NASASpaceflightPOV is 15%. Launch window opens at midnight ET.
Rocket Lab@RocketLab·The @USSF_SSC's STP-S30 mission's 4x DiskSats were encapsulated into Electron's fairing at our Integration & Control Facility in Virginia for tonight's 'Don't Be Such A Square' launch.Liftoff is scheduled in T-4 hours' time🚀 12:00 am ET, Dec 18🚀 9:00 pm PT, Dec 17🚀 05:00 UTC, Dec 18🚀 6:00 pm NZDT, Dec 18
Rocket Lab@RocketLabLaunch preparations continue and propellant load is about to begin. Weather is 70% favorable for launch tonight for @USSpaceForce and @USSF_SSC from Launch Complex 2.
EasternShoreSpaceflight@EShoreSpaceflt·It was awesome to see everyone and be on Wallops Island ground.
