Image of the Electron during its “The Owl’s Night Continues” launch
Source: Rocket Lab
On January 23, 2023, the space technology company Rocket Lab is set to launch one of its flagship products, the Electron launcher, and deliver several small satellites into orbit. The Electron launcher itself is a small, two-stage rocket that is capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kg into low Earth orbit. It is designed to be a cost-effective and reliable solution for launching small satellites, such as those used for earth observation, remote sensing, and communication.
The launch marks a significant milestone for the company and for the space industry as a whole. The mission, dubbed “Virginia is for Launch Lovers”, is the first launch from Rocket Lab’s new launch complex in Virginia, USA. Located in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, the Spaceport is no stranger to milestones with it being home to a thriving aerospace community and having a long history of over 16,000 launches. The ultimate goal of the mission is to demonstrate the capabilities of small, dedicated launch vehicles like the Electron and the potential they have to provide cost-effective access to space. Decreasing the cost of space travel contributes towards democratising access to space, making it more accessible to countries and organisations that were previously unable to afford it and allowing more people to reap its benefits.
Regarding the rocket itself, the Electron will carry three radio-frequency surveillance satellites for Virginia-based company HawkEye 360. These satellites are designed to grow HawkEye 360’s constellation of radio frequency monitoring satellites, allowing the company to provide more accurate mapping of radio-frequency emissions globally. This mission is the first of three that Rocket Lab will carry out for HawkEye 360, launching a total of 15 satellites over the course of 2023 and 2024. The satellites will be used for maritime domain awareness, natural resources management, and emergency response, among other applications. To date, Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher has flown more than 30 orbital missions and has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for launching small satellites. Although the Electron launch vehicle is designed to be reusable and has been recovered previously through the use of a helicopter, “Virginia Is for Launch Lovers” is focusing solely on payload delivery.
Ultimately, the launch of the Electron on the “Virginia is for Launch Lovers” mission marks an important milestone for Rocket Lab and the space industry. Not only does it mark the company’s first launch from its new launch complex in Virginia but it also sets the stage for future practical and cost-effective satellite launches for both commercial and government customers. In doing so, it opens new opportunities for space exploration and research, and serves as a step towards a sustainable and affordable space industry.
Written by Kshemaka Gunawardena
Sources:
Associate Professor
