10.06.2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab or "the Company) has announced the launch window for its 50th Electron mission, which will deploy five Internet-of-Things (IoT) satellites for French company Kineis.
The 'No Time Toulouse' mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a 14-day launch window that opens on June 19th, 2024, NZST.
The mission is the first of five dedicated Electron launches for Kineis, supported by investors including the French government's space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). Kineis' new constellation will enhance global IoT connectivity, allowing the connection of any object anywhere in the world and ensuring the transmission of targeted data to users in near-real time with low energy consumption. The constellation also includes a ship-tracking Automatic Identification System (AIS). Once deployed, these technologies will enable Kineis to expand across multiple industries and scale from 20,000 connected devices to millions.
"The launch industry is not an easy or forgiving one. Making it to your first launch is not a given, so reaching 50 Electron launches is an enormous achievement and a rare feat in the history of spaceflight, said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck. "I'm immensely proud of the team for bringing an industry-defining rocket to market, making frequent and reliable dedicated small launch a reality for the first time. We're excited to launch Kineis on this historic mission and grateful for the continued support of all the customers who have flown on Electron since our very first mission in 2017. Thank you for helping us to make Electron one of the most frequently launched rockets of all time.
Kineis CEO Alexandre Tisserant said: "Kineis is proud and confident to entrust the deployment of its constellation to Rocket Lab. The Electron launcher meets our technical requirements for the positioning of five nanosatellites for each dedicated launch. Our teams and those of Rocket Lab are well coordinated to ensure the satellite separation phase with the launcher. We are very honoured that this first launch for Kineis coincides with Electron's 50th flight!
The 'No Time Toulouse' launch has been customized to meet Kineis' mission requirements, providing greater control over launch schedule, orbit, and deployment parameters than larger rideshare missions. Specific mission parameters include:
- Instantaneous launch window,
- After the first Curie engine burn to circularize the Kick Stage's orbit, Curie will ignite again for an eight second burn to set a specific argument of perigee, enabling Kineis to deploy five satellites to precise locations for each of the five launches,
- All five satellites will be deployed in a precise sequence in singles and pairs to build out the constellation exactly as Kineis needs it,
- Finally, Curie will conduct a perigee lowering burn to reduce the Kick Stage's orbital lifetime to maintain space sustainability.
Quelle: SD
+++
Rocket Lab targets 14-day launch window for 50th Electron mission
Space company Rocket Lab is targeting a two-week window from June 19 for the 50th mission of its Electron small orbital launch vehicle.
It will be the 46th Electron launch from Mahia since the first test flight in May, 2017. The other four launches have been from the company’s complex in Virginia, USA.
The mission - named “No Time Toulouse” - will deploy five satellites for Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES, to improve global Internet-of-Things connectivity.
In total, five Electron launches were planned for Kinéis, deploying a 25-satellite constellation, Rocket Lab said.
Kinéis’ new constellation would connect any object anywhere in the world and guarantee the transmission of targeted and useful data to users, in near-real time, with low energy consumption.
The company would be able to scale up from 20,000 devices connected to millions.
Rocket Lab's 50th Electron rocket being prepared for lift-off.
SUPPLIED/BUSINESS WIRE
“The launch industry is not an easy or forgiving one,” Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said in a statement.
“Making it to your first launch is not a given, so reaching 50 Electron launches is an enormous achievement and a rare feat in the history of spaceflight.”
Quelle: Stuff