Question 1

What rocket is launching TROPICS-1?

Accepted Answer

TROPICS-1 is launching on the Astra Rocket 3.

Question 2

Who is launching TROPICS-1?

Accepted Answer

TROPICS-1 is being launched by Astra Space, a commercial launch provider founded in 2005.

Question 3

Where is TROPICS-1 launching from?

Accepted Answer

TROPICS-1 is launching from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is TROPICS-1 heading to?

Accepted Answer

TROPICS-1 is heading to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Question 5

Is the Astra Rocket 3 reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Astra Rocket 3 is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Astra Rocket 3 flown?

Accepted Answer

The Astra Rocket 3 has launched 7 times to date, with 2 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the TROPICS-1 mission?

Accepted Answer

First two operational (TROPICS-02 & TROPICS-03) 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.

Question 8

Where is Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

Accepted Answer

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station sits on Florida's Atlantic coast, on the Eastern Range run by the U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45. It is the United States' busiest launch site and has been America's gateway to orbit since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX flies Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, and United Launch Alliance flies the Vulcan Centaur (and the retiring Atlas V) from Space Launch Complex 41.

Question 10

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

No. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center are separate, neighbouring sites — Kennedy is on Merritt Island just to the north. Together they make up Florida's 'Space Coast'.

Question 11

Why do rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Its pads sit on the Eastern Range, letting rockets fly east out over the Atlantic toward the equatorial and geostationary orbits most commercial and national-security payloads need, away from populated land.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Space Coast is one of the easiest places in the world to watch a launch from public land. Popular free spots include Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.

TROPICS-1

Status details

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Space Launch Complex 46

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions