Both TROPICS satellites have deployed from the Electron kickstage
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Historical mission record
This page records Electron | Rocket Like A Hurricane (TROPICS-2) and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.
Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.
Check the source: Source ↗ · Rocket Like A Hurricane ↗ · NASA Awards Launch Services Task Order for TROPICS CubeSats Mission ↗
The latest on this mission
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Mission status
Launch Successful
Status reported by the mission data provider.
LAUNCH SITERocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Mission
Third and fourth operational (TROPICS-04 & TROPICS-05) satellites for NASA's Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) mission. The CubeSats are designed to provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements that can be used to determine temperature, pressure, and humidity inside hurricanes as they form and evolve.
- Launch vehicle
- Electron
- Mission type
- Earth Science
- Destination orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
- Launch pad
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B
- Provider
- Rocket Lab
- Recovery
- Expended, Booster expended on its first flight.
The vehicle
Published configuration and flight history.
Launch vehicle
Electron
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
- Height
- 18 m
- Diameter
- 1.2 m
- Stages
- 3
- Recorded launches
- 80
- First flight
- 2017-05-25
Core
36
Flight 1New
- Recovery
- South Pacific
- Landing method
- Expended
Recorded timing
This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.
2h windowPublished target
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Target ·
The target marker shows its position within the published window. The schedule may change before launch.
Launch site & orbit
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
The mission in perspective
Launch site & orbit
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Coverage & sources
Links supplied by the mission data provider.
Coverage and times may change.
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