Electron: Rocket Like A Hurricane (TROPICS-2)
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.
Mission Data
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
About 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.
Launch updates
Both TROPICS satellites have deployed from the Electron kickstage
Source ↗Liftoff of Electron carrying 2 NASA TROPICS satellite
Livestream has started
New launch date confirmed.
Source ↗Delayed again due to weather, new date will be determined after the storm passes.
Source ↗Launch delayed to NET May 3rd as teams monitor a storm at the launch site.
Setting GO. Rocket Lab has confirmed they have moved the mission to LC-1 in New Zealand
Source ↗Updating launch vehicle, provider, and pad. Launch NET May 1, 2023.
Source ↗NET 2023; rocket configuration will be updated later on DB
Source ↗NET April
Source ↗
Launch Site
Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.