Rocket Lab has signed a new contract with Japanese satellite operator iQPS for three additional targeted missions using the Electron launch vehicle. The deal is the third major startup acquisition between the companies in the past year.
Mission details and schedule
Total volume: The new contract provides 3 additional missions.
General launch queue: Now the total number of runs, armored iQPS on the Electron rocket, reached 18 missions.
Flight schedule: Launches are planned for the period from the end 2027 year.
Launch pad: All missions will be launched from the Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Payload: Each launch will take you into low Earth orbit (height 575 km) one QPS-SAR satellite each.
Radar technology: The satellites are equipped with synthetic aperture radars (SAR), which allows you to take pictures of the Earth in any weather and time of day.
Additional equipment: Rocket Lab також надасть свої фірмові системи відділення супутників Motorized Lightband.
Глобальна мета iQPS: Компанія планує розгорнути сузір’я з 24 супутників до травня 2028 року та збільшити його до 36 апаратів до 2030 year for monitoring the Earth in real time.
A success story: Starting with 2023 year, Electron has already been successfully launched into orbit 7 satellites for iQPS with 100% indicator of mission success.
Closer plans: Наступний запуск для iQPS попередньо запланований не раніше серпня після нещодавнього технічного скасування старту в червні.
Угода підписана на тлі рекордного попиту на запуски легких ракет-носіїв компанії Rocket Lab. A few days ago, the American provider also received a record contract from the US Space Force for the amount $266 million.
Source: https://spacenews.com