The final two TROPICS CubeSats successfully deployed from a Rocket Lab Electron rocket after launch. The rocket named Coming To A Storm Near You lifted off at at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th). The team is now working to seek signal acquisition from this pair of TROPICS CubeSats. …
TROPICS CubeSats Have Deployed
NASA’s TROPICS CubeSats have deployed from the Rocket Lab Electron kick stage. The two CubeSats will reach low Earth orbit to begin their mission. Each of the CubeSats was designed to last approximately two years, but analysis, lifetime testing of key parts, and on-orbit experiences with similar hardware could help the satellites surpass their design …
Electron’s Second Stage Separates
The second stage of Rocket Lab’s Electron has cut off and separated from the payload fairing’s kick stage. In around 20 minutes, the kick stage engine will ignite and burn for almost four minutes before it cuts off.
Electron Performs Battery Hot Swap
The Electron rocket has successfully completed the battery hot swap, switching power between batteries. The next milestone is second stage separation in about two minutes.
Liftoff For Coming To A Storm Near You!
NASA’s two TROPICS CubeSats have lifted off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 at Māhia, New Zealand at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th). A series of milestones will occur within several minutes after launch. The rocket will reach Max-Q – the speed at which the …
Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Prepares for Launch
TROPICS will launch aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, on a mission nicknamed Coming To A Storm Near You, from Launch Complex 1 at Māhia, New Zealand. The first mission – Rocket Like A Hurricane – launched on May 8 from New Zealand was Rocket Lab’s 36th Electron launch overall. The Electron is a 60-foot (18 …
Go For Launch!
The team has just called out Go for Launch, and the Electron rocket carrying NASA’s TROPICS mission should blast off in about 10 minutes.
Mission Facts About NASA’s TROPICS
NASA selected Rocket Lab to provide the launch service for the TROPICS mission as part of the agency’s VADR (Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) launch services contract in November 2022. NASA’s Launch Services Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the launch service. TROPICS is one of NASA’s Earth venture-instrument missions, …
Live Coverage of Today’s Launch Begins
Live coverage has begun for the second of two launches of NASA’s TROPICS mission. Rocket Lab is targeting no earlier than 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th) for the launch of Coming To A Storm Near You, the flight of the company’s Electron rocket that will send a pair …
Rocket Lab TROPICS Timeline of Events for Today’s Launch
A 70-minute window opens at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th) to launch a pair of NASA’s TROPICS CubeSats today on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from New Zealand. Here’s a look at some of today’s upcoming milestones. All times are approximate: Timeline of Launch Events Hr/Min/Sec Event -00:02:00 …