Coming To A Storm Near You (TROPICS-3)
Electron
Rocket Lab
Mission
TROPICS-3
- Type: Earth Science
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $6,000,000
Last two operational (TROPICS-06 & TROPICS-07) 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.
Location
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B
Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B has witnessed the launch of 22 rockets, including 22 orbital launch attempts, while Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, has been the site for 48 rocket launches.
Rocket
Rocket Lab 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.
Landing
Core 37
Booster 37 last launched 05/26/2023 and has seen 0 successful launches and landings. Booster expended on the “Coming To A Storm Near You” mission
South Pacific – PAC
Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.
Expended – EXP
Vehicle did not perform any landing operations after launch
Agency
Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
