Electron | The Moon God Awakens (QPS-SAR-5)
Launch Successful
L - -- : -- : -- : --
Launch Window
Dec. 15, 2023, 4 a.m. - Dec. 15, 2023, 6 a.m.
Dec. 15, 2023, 4 a.m. - Dec. 15, 2023, 6 a.m.
QPS-SAR-5 is a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite that will join a constellation after QPS-SAR-6 already in orbit. iQPS’s satellites are small, high-performance SAR satellites that use a lightweight, large, stowable antenna to collect high resolution images of Earth, even through clouds and adverse weather conditions.
Launch success w/ main payload in contact.
Liftoff.
Count resumed.
Holding at T-12 minutes.
Delayed to December 15 due to launch site winds.
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. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
See DetailsBooster was expended on its first flight.
Core will be expended.Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
INFO WIKI
Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese radar imaging satellite on the first flight of its Electron rocket since a failure nearly three months ago.
SpaceX has yet another busy week of launches this week, with Rocket Lab, Russia, and China also launching rockets. SpaceX is attempting to launch Falcon 9’s from both the Cape and Vanderberg with Starlink missions.
Rocket Lab is pushing to get its launch business back on track by the end of the year, reporting on Wednesday third-quarter results that saw continued strength in its space systems division.
Rocket Lab expects to resume Electron launches in late November after concluding a “largely improbable” combination of events caused the vehicle’s previous launch to fail.
A Japanese firm developing a constellation of SAR satellites is the latest to turn to Rocket Lab after the bankruptcy of rival launch company Virgin Orbit.
A batch of Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group. …
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
2nd of the BlackSky Gen-3 high resolution Earth-imaging satellites.
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
NS-32 is the 12th crewed flight for the New Shepard program and the 32nd in its history.
Eighth of ten GPS III missions.
Chinese experimental satellite claimed to be for "Earth observation & environmental management" purposes, details not known.
Tianwen-2 is a planned Chinese asteroid sample return and comet orbiter mission due for launch in May 2025. The spacecraft will visit the Near Earth …
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.