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 will also provide its proprietary Motorized Lightband satellite separation systems.
The global goal of iQPS: The company plans to deploy a constellation of 24 satellites until May 2028 year and increase it to 36 devices to 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: The next launch for iQPS is tentatively scheduled for no earlier than August after the recent technical cancellation of the launch in June.
The agreement was signed against the background of record demand for launches of Rocket Lab's light launch vehicles. 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