Rocket Lab, a leading aerospace company, achieved a significant milestone on January 31st by successfully launching the first four satellites for NorthStar Earth and Space. This launch not only marked a crucial step forward for NorthStar’s space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities but also served as a test for Rocket Lab’s efforts to recover and eventually reuse its Electron boosters.
The Electron rocket took off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 1:34 a.m. Eastern. Dubbed “Four of a Kind,” the mission deployed four 16U cubesats built by Spire for NorthStar into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 530 kilometers. These satellites are equipped with advanced sensors that enable them to track objects as small as five centimeters across in low Earth orbit and 40 centimeters across in geostationary orbit.
The successful deployment of these four satellites is just the beginning of NorthStar’s ambitious plans. They aim to establish an initial constellation of 12 spacecraft, with the next eight scheduled to be launched on two future Electron missions by 2026. Additionally, NorthStar has the option to include up to 18 more spacecraft in their contract with Spire.
NorthStar Earth and Space has raised an impressive $105 million, including $15 million in December alone. The company envisions that once all 12 satellites are operational, they will be able to monitor 60% of the sky at any given time. When combined with other sensors, this coverage will increase to a remarkable 100%. Stewart Bain, the CEO of NorthStar, emphasized the importance of their SSA service in addressing the challenges of space congestion and security. He stated, “NorthStar has patiently invested in the realization of an unprecedented turnkey SSA service designed to outperform the challenges of space congestion and security in space that are mounting exponentially every day.”
However, NorthStar’s journey to this successful launch was not without its share of obstacles. Initially, the four satellites were scheduled to launch last year using Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system. Unfortunately, Virgin Orbit filed for bankruptcy in April 2023, leading to the cancellation of the launch. NorthStar then turned to Rocket Lab for a launch in the fall of 2023, but faced further delays when an Electron launch failed in September.
Despite these setbacks, Rocket Lab’s “Four of a Kind” launch marked the company’s first mission of the year. Originally planned for mid-January, the launch was delayed due to additional pre-launch checkouts and poor weather conditions. Rocket Lab has an ambitious manifest of 22 Electron launches for 2024, including two for their suborbital missions using the HASTE version.
In addition to deploying NorthStar’s satellites, Rocket Lab also utilized this launch as an opportunity to test its booster recovery capabilities. The Electron booster descended under a parachute and splashed down in the ocean 17 minutes after liftoff. A recovery ship promptly arrived at the splashdown site to retrieve the booster and transport it back to port. This successful recovery is a crucial step towards Rocket Lab’s goal of reusing boosters. In fact, the company had already launched a booster with a previously flown Rutherford engine in August 2023, marking a significant milestone on their path to achieving full booster reuse.
Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab, expressed his excitement about the mission’s success and the company’s future endeavors. He stated, “The success of today’s mission to deliver Spire and NorthStar to orbit, and the completion of our secondary mission to return Electron to Earth after launch, has been a fantastic start of what is set to be Rocket Lab’s busiest year ever.”
Rocket Lab’s successful launch of NorthStar’s satellites not only demonstrates their technical capabilities but also highlights their commitment to advancing the field of space situational awareness. With NorthStar’s ambitious plans for a comprehensive SSA service and Rocket Lab’s dedication to booster recovery and reuse, the future of space exploration and security looks promising.
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