Suggested Searches

Small Satellite Missions

    Starling: We Have Liftoff!

    NASA’s Starling mission, has lifted off from the launch pad aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. The four CubeSats are on their way to low Earth orbit to test new autonomous spacecraft swarm technologies. Rocket Lab is providing a live launch broadcast, available on the company’s website. Connect with us on social media for ongoing launch …

    Read Full Post

    It’s Launch Day for NASA’s Starling Mission!

    Welcome to launch day for NASA’s Starling CubeSat mission! A team of four satellites wait atop a Rocket Lab Electron rocket for liftoff from Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand. This launch, named Baby Come Back, will send Starling’s cereal box-sized satellites, called CubeSats, to low Earth orbit, where they will test new autonomous …

    Read Full Post

    NASA Awards SpaceX Launch Services Task Order for CubeSat Mission

    NASA logo

    NASA has awarded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. of Hawthorne, California, one task order to launch two CubeSat Launch Initiative missions as part of the agency’s Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. The CubeSats are targeted to launch no earlier than 2025 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. NASA will specify payloads …

    Read Full Post

    Seeking Signal Acquisition

    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. …

    Read Full Post

    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 …

    Read Full Post

    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.

    Read Full Post

    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 …

    Read Full Post

    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 …

    Read Full Post

    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.

    Read Full Post