Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) provider in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 51st Electron rocket and deployed a single satellite to low Earth orbit for Synspective, a Japanese Earth-imaging company.
The mission, named “Owl For One, One For Owl” in a nod to Synspective’s StriX satellites named after the genus for owls, lifted off at 04:39 a.m., August 3rd NZT (16:39 UTC, August 2nd) from Launch Complex 1, Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission deployed the fifth of Synspective’s StriX SAR-imaging satellites to low Earth orbit. In addition to the launch service, Rocket Lab provided a custom Electron fairing to encapsulate the StriX satellite and also performed an advanced mid-mission maneuver with Electron’s Kick Stage to shield the satellite from the sun and reduce radiation exposure on its way to orbit.
Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date. This mission was the fifth launch of a total of 16 launches booked on Electron for Synspective and the second launch for the Japanese company this year, after the “Owl Night Long” mission launched in March 2024. Most recently, Synspective booked ten dedicated Electron launches as part of a new multi-launch agreement announced in June 2024, with the launches in that new deal set to take place across 2025-2027.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck says, “It’s wonderful to have launched our second mission for Synspective in five months as we continue our longstanding launch partnership. Electron is the ideal rocket for providing flexible, tailored, and direct access to orbit for constellation builders like Synspective, and I’m proud of the team for delivering this latest mission success.”
The launch window for Rocket Lab’s next Electron mission will be announced in the coming days.
Rocket Lab stands down from Synspective’s SAR July 30 launch due to weather
The negative weather conditions are visible.
At first Rocket Lab’s hopeful launch date looked questionable as shown here in the X statement, then due to heavy rain at the New Zealand site the stand down was called.
Launch preparations are progressing well for our mission, but Mission Control is keeping a close eye on a band of heavy rain and thick cloud heading its way to the launch site. Weather POV currently = 60%.
Then later the mission is in stand down.
With an increased POV of ~80%, we’re standing down from today’s launch attempt due to weather. Details to come on our new target launch date.
Rocket Lab ready to launch Synspective’s SAR satellite on Wednesday for “Owl for One, One for Owl” mission to build a constellation
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) provider of launch services and space systems revealed the launch window for its 51st Electron launch mission to deliver the latest satellite in a constellation being built by its long-standing customer Synspective.
The “Owl for One, One for Owl” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a 14-day launch window that opens on July 31st NZST / July 30th UTC. In addition to deploying a single StriX satellite to low Earth orbit for this mission, Rocket Lab will perform an advanced mid-mission maneuver with Electron’s Kick Stage to shield the satellite from the sun and reduce radiation exposure.
Synspective founder and CEO Dr. Motoyuki Arai on left, and Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck on right
The mission will be the fifth launch of a total of 16 launches on Electron for Synspective, a Japanese Earth observation company deploying a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites designed to deliver imagery that can detect millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space. Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date, and this latest mission continues a lasting and trusted partnership to deploy their StriX constellation to low Earth orbit. Most recently that partnership was further cemented by a new multi-launch contract of ten dedicated Electron launches for Synspective announced in June 2024, with the launches in that new deal set to take place across 2025-2027.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, “Synspective’s long-standing trust in the team to build out their constellation is recognition of Electron’s continued dominance as the ultimate small launch vehicle for the industry. Schedule flexibility, a reliable rocket launching more and more frequently, and our unique in-space capabilities that support mission needs are all critical functions at play in the multi-launch contracts being signed by our domestic and international launch customers. It’s an honor to continue launching for Synspective through our ongoing partnership.”
“Owl for One, One for Owl” will be Rocket Lab’s 51st Electron mission and ninth launch this year. As well as an additional launch for Synspective scheduled to take place before the end of this year, other launches for multi-launch contract customers include space-based intelligence company BlackSky and French Internet-of-Things (IoT) company Kinéis.
Rocket Lab’s date set for Synspective satellites launch
File photo of a Rocket Lab Electron launch.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the launch window for the company’s 51st Electron launch, a mission that will launch the latest satellite in a constellation that is being built by long-standing customer — Synspective.
The “Owl for One, One for Owl” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, during a 14-day launch window that opens on July 31st NZST / July 30th UTC. In addition to deploying a single StriX satellite to LEO for this mission, Rocket Lab will perform an advanced, mid-mission maneuver with Electron’s Kick Stage to shield the satellite from the sun and reduce radiation exposure.
The mission will be the fifth launch of a total of 16 launches on Electron for Synspective, a Japanese EO company deploying a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites designed to deliver imagery that can detect millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space. Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date, and this latest mission continues a lasting and trusted partnership to deploy their StriX constellation to low Earth orbit. Most recently that partnership was further cemented by a new multi-launch contract of ten dedicated Electron launches for Synspective announced in June 2024, with the launches in that new deal set to take place across 2025-2027.
“Owl for One, One for Owl” will be Rocket Lab’s 51st Electron mission and ninth launch this year. As well as an additional launch for Synspective scheduled to take place before the end of this year, other launches for multi-launch contract customers include space-based intelligence company BlackSky and French IoT company, Kinéis.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “Synspective’s long-standing trust in the team to build out their constellation is recognition of Electron’s continued dominance as the ultimate small launch vehicle for the industry. Schedule flexibility, a reliable rocket launching more and more frequently, and our unique in-space capabilities that support mission needs are all critical functions at play in the multi-launch contracts being signed by our domestic and international launch customers. It’s an honor to continue launching for Synspective through our ongoing partnership.”
