Beginning Of The Swarm
Well folks, it’s time for the 5th Rocket Lab launch of the year!
| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-04-23 22:32 |
|---|---|
| Scheduled for (NZDT) | 2024-04-24 10:32 |
| Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand |
| Booster recovery | No |
| Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie |
| Customers | NASA, KAIST |
| Payloads | ACS3, NeonSat-1 |
| Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into Sun-Synchronous Orbit |
Livestreams
| Stream | Link |
|---|---|
| Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9izutzETw1U |
| Everyday Astronaut | |
| Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RsjdotByms |
| The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui5seaIDzMQ |
Stats
- This will be the 5th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
- This will be the 47th overall launch for Rocket Lab.
Payload info:
ACS3
NASA’s ACS3 technology demonstration uses composite materials - or a combination of materials with different properties, in its novel, lightweight booms that deploy from a CubeSat to support a solar sail. Just as a sailboat is powered by wind in a sail, solar sails employ the pressure of sunlight for propulsion, eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellant. Data obtained from the ACS3 demonstration will guide the design of future larger-scale composite solar sail systems that could be used for space weather early warning satellites, near-Earth asteroid reconnaissance missions, or communications relays for crewed exploration missions.
NeonSat-1
NeonSat-1 is a high-resolution optical satellite that will be deployed as a technology demonstration for a planned future Earth observation constellation. KAIST is Korea’s leading science and technology institution, having developed and operated Korea’s very first satellite KAIST when it was successfully launched more than 30 years ago.
Previous mission (Live and Let Fly (NROL-123)) | Next mission (Ready, Aim, PREFIRE)
Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a brand new community, so feedback is very valuable!
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I’m just sitting here with no context watching the animation of how the new satellite will bombard the earth with death rays.
Haha, it’s an optical satellite, so I think that animation was intended to represent the field of view, as the camera scans the surface of the ground in narrow strips. My Korean reading comprehension is non-existent though, so I can’t say for sure that it’s not death rays…
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1782854270360121385
Beautiful sunrise pics of Electron vertical and ready on the pad at LC-1 for today’s lift-off for @kaistpr and @NASA.
Beginning Of The Swarm (B.T.S.) scheduled for launch:
⏰Weds 24 NZT | 10:15
⏰Tue 23 UTC | 22:15
⏰Tue 23 EDT | 18:15 ⏰Tues 23 PDT | 15:15Hosted webcast has started: Murielle Baker (Communications Manager) and Kim Thompson (Structural Analyst - Neutron) are hosting.
Clock still holding at T-12 minutes. While we wait, there’s yet another SpaceX launch going up in a couple minutes.
Hold called at T-12 minutes due to a GSE issue. Today’s launch window is not instantaneous, so they have some time to fix the issue.
SECO, kickstage separation, and nominal transfer orbit confirmed!
Next up is Kick Stage (Curie engine) ignition and first payload deploy around T+45 minutes.
Hosted webcast is back. Kickstage ignition scheduled for T+47:09.
Edit: Curie burn 1 and first payload deploy (KAIST) confirmed. Webcast ended.
The count has resumed, and the go no-go poll is complete!
Liftoff!
MECO, stage separation, SES-1, and fairing separation.
Second payload deploy confirmed: https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1782927083179807013
Welcome to orbit, NEONSAT-1 and NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System 🌎
Mission success for our 47th Electron launch 🚀
