Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems,
has successfully packed and shipped two Mars-bound spacecraft to
Cape Canaveral, FL in preparation for launch. These twin spacecraft
for the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(ESCAPADE) heliophysics mission were designed, built, integrated,
and tested by Rocket Lab for the University of California
Berkeley’s Space Science Laboratory and NASA.
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Rocket Lab built ESCAPADE twin spacecraft
fully assembled and ready for shipping at the company's Spacecraft
Production Complex and headquarters in Long Beach, California,
before shipping to the launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Image Credit: Rocket Lab
The spacecraft, known as Blue and Gold, recently completed
comprehensive assembly, integration, and test at Rocket Lab’s
Spacecraft Production Complex and headquarters in Long Beach,
California. Following this milestone, the Rocket Lab team conducted
final closeout activities, including the installation of spacecraft
solar arrays and multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets, before they
were packaged and shipped to Florida for launch.
Upon arrival at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch
Complex, Rocket Lab team members will transfer the spacecraft to a
cleanroom for post-transport inspections and tests. Following
thorough checks, the team will commence preparation for fueling the
spacecraft in anticipation of their upcoming launch on Blue
Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
“We’ve already been to the Moon for NASA, so we’re excited to
build on that and send Rocket Lab technology deeper into the solar
system, this time to the Red Planet,” said Rocket Lab founder and
CEO Sir Peter Beck. “Our Space Systems team has built a beautiful
and highly capable pair of spacecraft to help NASA and the
University of California Berkeley further humanity’s understanding
of Mars. We couldn’t be prouder to be an ESCAPADE mission partner
enabling science and exploration missions beyond our planet. After
a meticulous but speedy build and test phase, we’re excited to have
Blue and Gold on their way to the Cape and a step closer to
Mars.”
"The successful delivery of the spacecraft to Kennedy Space
Center marks a significant milestone and the culmination of over
three years of dedicated teamwork from individuals across the
project, especially our partners at Rocket Lab,” said Rob Lillis,
ESCAPADE Principal Investigator and Associate Director for
Planetary Science at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory.
“Interplanetary spacecraft must be much more resilient than earth
satellites, and developing not one, but two of these probes almost
from scratch was no small feat. Time and again, Rocket Lab’s
agility and tireless efforts have impressed me, exemplified by
their frequent 'hero mode' (a saying we have on the project) to
troubleshoot and keep the project on course. We couldn’t ask for
better partners in this endeavor. Now, we’re thrilled to embark on
this first step of our journey to Mars!"
Once launched, the ESCAPADE mission will measure plasma and
magnetic fields around the Red Planet. These observations will help
scientists unravel the processes that strip atoms from Mars’
magnetosphere and upper atmosphere, offering critical insights into
Martian climate evolution.
Images:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlab/albums/72177720319488550
More info: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/escapade/
+ About the ESCAPADE Mission
NASA’s ESCAPADE is a NASA heliophysics mission that will study
Mars’ magnetosphere – the magnetized area of space around the
planet – using two identical small spacecraft, which will provide
simultaneous two-point observations. The spacecraft will help
provide researchers a better understanding of how the magnetosphere
interacts with the solar wind, and how energy and plasma enter and
leave the magnetosphere. ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small
Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program. The mission
is managed by the University of California Berkley’s Space Sciences
Laboratory, with key partners Rocket Lab, NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Advanced Space LLC
and Blue Origin.
+ About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch and space systems.
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle is the second most frequently
launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 190
satellites to orbit for commercial and Government partners,
including NASA, the U.S. Air Force, DARPA and the NRO. Rocket Lab
also delivers proven suborbital hypersonic launch capability with
its HASTE launch vehicle. Building on the deep heritage of
Electron, Rocket Lab is developing Neutron, an advanced 13-tonne
payload class, reusable launch vehicle tailored for constellation
deployment and interplanetary missions. Rocket Lab is also a
premier supplier of advanced satellites, flight-proven subsystems
and spacecraft components. At a component level, Rocket Lab
spacecraft technology spans space solar power, composite
structures, flight software, star trackers, reaction wheels,
separation systems, and more. Rocket Lab satellite technology and
components have been integrated into more than 1,700 satellite
missions globally. www.rocketlabusa.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, 2023, 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.
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Rocket Lab Media Contact Lindsay McLaurin
media@rocketlabusa.com
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