LAUNCH CENTER

Success

Fri May 26 2023

Rocket Lab

TROPICS-3

Launch Successful

LAUNCH PREVIEW

Launch Time

(3:46 AM UTC)

Launch Window Start

(3:30 AM UTC)

Launch Window End

(4:40 AM UTC)

RECOVERY OVERVIEW

Location

No Recovery Specified

Type

No Recovery Specified

Rocket Details

Name:

Electron

Description:

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage.

MISSION OVERVIEW

Type: Earth Science
Last two operational (TROPICS-06 & TROPICS-07) satellites for NASA's Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) mission. The CubeSats are designed to provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements that can be used to determine temperature, pressure, and humidity inside hurricanes as they form and evolve.

COMPLEX OVERVIEW

Location

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Pad

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B