The highly responsive mission aims to
demonstrate new orbital debris inspection technologies for space
sustainability
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems,
today announced it has set the launch window for Astroscale’s
orbital debris inspection demonstration mission.
The ‘On Closer Inspection’ mission is scheduled to launch during
a 14-day window that opens on February 19th NZDT. The mission will
lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and will
deploy the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J)
satellite for Astroscale Japan Inc. The mission is the first phase
of an orbital debris removal program, and during this phase ADRAS-J
is designed to test technologies and operations for approaching and
monitoring debris objects, also known as space junk, and delivering
data that will assist in removing it, to ensure the sustainable use
of space for future generations.
After launching on Electron, the 150-kilogram ADRAS-J satellite
will approach an aged, derelict rocket stage in orbit to observe it
closely, understand how it behaves and determine potential methods
for its assisted deorbiting in future. The rocket stage it will be
observing is the Japanese H-2A upper stage left in low Earth orbit
after the launch of the GOSAT Earth observation satellite in 2009.
ADRAS-J will fly around the stage, 11 meters long and four meters
in diameter, inspecting it with cameras. After deployment from
Electron, Astroscale’s full mission will take between three and six
months to complete.
To enable the rendezvous with a non-cooperative space object
requires a dedicated launch, highly responsive mission planning and
extremely tight margins on orbital parameters. Rocket Lab only
received the final perigee, apogee, and inclination from Astroscale
20 days before launch. Only then could argument of perigee targets
for different days within the 14-day window be selected,
essentially determining the timing of Electron Kick Stage burns to
facilitate the unique elliptical orbit required depending on the
launch date. The mission also demands highly accurate orbital
insertion with tighter margins than required on most standard
missions. In addition, the exact T-0 will only be defined the day
prior to launch and the required LTAN accuracy only allows for +/-
15 seconds.
“Electron is really the only vehicle capable of delivering such
a complex mission on an expedited timeline,” said Rocket Lab
Founder and CEO Peter Beck. “With a dedicated launch on Electron
the Astroscale team have a high degree of control over launch time
and deployment parameters, and the Kick Stage delivers critical
manoeuvrability for precise orbital deployment. We’re immensely
proud to be working with the Astroscale team in support of a
pivotal mission that could have real, positive benefits for
managing space sustainability for future generations.”
“We are proud to join forces with Rocket Lab to launch the
world’s first attempt to safely approach a piece of large debris,”
said Astroscale Founder & CEO, Nobu Okada. “ADRAS-J is a
testament to our commitment to technological innovation and to
fostering the growth of the on-orbit servicing sector. This mission
holds immense significance, not just for the future of space
sustainability, but for pioneering advancements in Rendezvous and
Proximity Operations, which are essential technologies to deliver
any on-orbit servicing such as debris removal.”
‘On Closer Inspection’ will be Rocket Lab’s 2nd launch in 2024
and the 44th Electron mission overall.
+ About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and
on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more
affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach,
California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small
orbital launch vehicle, the Photon satellite platform, and the
Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January
2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second
most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 176
satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations,
enabling operations in national security, scientific research,
space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and
communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been
selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as
the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three
launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a
private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third
launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.com.
+ About Astroscale
Founded in 2013, Astroscale is developing innovative and
scalable solutions across the spectrum of on-orbit servicing
missions, including life extension, in-situ space situational
awareness, end-of-life services, and active debris removal, to
create sustainable space systems and mitigate the growing and
hazardous buildup of debris in space. Astroscale is also defining
business cases and working with government and commercial
stakeholders to develop norms, regulations, and incentives for the
responsible use of space.
Headquartered in Japan, Astroscale has an international presence
with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel,
and Singapore. Astroscale is a rapidly expanding venture company,
working to advance safe and sustainable growth in space and solve a
growing environmental concern. Find out more about Astroscale at
www.astroscale.com.
+ Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained
in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in
this press release other than statements of historical fact,
including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and
space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and
repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational
expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The
words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,”
“continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,”
“could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
though not all forward-looking statements use these words or
expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees,
but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the
factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as such
factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section
of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such
forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of
the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim
any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views
to change.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240207995593/en/
+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Morgan Bailey
media@rocketlabusa.com
Grafico Azioni Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Storico
Da Apr 2024 a Mag 2024
Grafico Azioni Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Storico
Da Mag 2023 a Mag 2024