August 31, 2020 3:05 am

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical (Capella 2 & First Light)

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Electron

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
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August 31, 2020 3:05 am

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2026-07-11 18:25:29

This return to flight mission is dedicated for Capella Space, an information services company providing Earth observation data on demand. Capella’s payload, ‘Sequoia’, is a single 100 kg class microsatellite which will be the first publicly available satellite in the company’s commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation. By positioning the satellite to a 45-degree inclination, Capella Space will maximize coverage over important areas such as the Middle East, Korea, Japan, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, and the U.S. The mission name is a nod to Capella’s SAR technology that provides high quality images of the Earth day or night, and in any weather conditions, as well as a nod to the infamous advertisement campaign for “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”. Capella’s space-based radar can detect sub-0.5 meter changes on the surface of the Earth, providing insights and data that can be used for security, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring, as well as disaster response and recovery.
Launch Overview
Window Open 03:05 UTC
Window Close 03:05 UTC
Lift Off Aug 31, 2020 · 03:05 UTC
Launch Facility Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Launch Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Rocket Lab
Payload I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical (Capella 2 & First Light)
Rocket Electron
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
This return to flight mission is dedicated for Capella Space, an information services company providing Earth observation data on demand. Capella’s payload, ‘Sequoia’, is a single 100 kg class microsatellite which will be the first publicly available satellite in the company’s commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation. By positioning the satellite to a 45-degree inclination, Capella Space will maximize coverage over important areas such as the Middle East, Korea, Japan, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, and the U.S. The mission name is a nod to Capella’s SAR technology that provides high quality images of the Earth day or night, and in any weather conditions, as well as a nod to the infamous advertisement campaign for “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”. Capella’s space-based radar can detect sub-0.5 meter changes on the surface of the Earth, providing insights and data that can be used for security, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring, as well as disaster response and recovery.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A
Launch Overview
Window Open 03:05 UTC
Window Close 03:05 UTC
Lift Off Aug 31, 2020 · 03:05 UTC
Launch Facility Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Launch Pad Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Rocket Lab
Payload I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical (Capella 2 & First Light)
Rocket Electron
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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