I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical

Mission

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical

Type: Earth Science
Launch Cost: $6,000,000

This return to flight mission is dedicated for Capella Space, an information services company providing Earth observation data on demand.

Capella’s payload, ‘Sequoia’, is a single 100 kg class microsatellite which will be the first publicly available satellite in the company’s commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation. By positioning the satellite to a 45-degree inclination, Capella Space will maximize coverage over important areas such as the Middle East, Korea, Japan, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, and the U.S.

The mission name is a nod to Capella’s SAR technology that provides high quality images of the Earth day or night, and in any weather conditions, as well as a nod to the infamous advertisement campaign for “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”. Capella’s space-based radar can detect sub-0.5 meter changes on the surface of the Earth, providing insights and data that can be used for security, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring, as well as disaster response and recovery.

Trajectory

The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.

Location

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

37 rockets have launched from Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.