Success
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical (Capella 2 & First Light)
Earth Science
Rocket Lab(RL)CommercialElectron
LEOorbit
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.
Monday, August 31, 2020 at 3:05 AM
Replay
Links
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#5,988
RL Mission
#14
Pad Launch
#14
Location Launch
#14
Designator
2020-060
Weather GO
90%
Launch Window
NET
Aug 31, 2020, 3:05 AM
Precision
Second
Schedule Changes
1 update
Electron Specs
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.
Length
18 m
Diameter
1.2 m
Launch Mass
13 t
Thrust
162 kN
LEO Capacity
300 kg
SSO Capacity
225 kg
Launch Cost
$6M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2017
Fastest Turnaround
21h 55m
Total Launches
88
Successful
84
Failed
4
Consecutive Success
47
Maiden flight: May 25, 2017
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.
Founded
2006
Administrator
CEO: Peter Beck
Total Launches
88
Successful
84
Failed
4
Pending
42
Consecutive Success
47
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 is a commercial spaceport located close to Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of Māhia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is owned and operated by private spaceflight company Rocket Lab and supports launches of the company's Electron rocket for small satellites. With the launch of Electron on 25 May 2017, it became the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt, and the first site in New Zealand to host an orbital launch attempt. With the Electron launch of 21 January 2018, it became the first private spaceport to host a successful orbital launch.
Timezone
Pacific/Auckland
Local Launch Time
Aug 31, 2020, 3:05 PM
Total Launches
76
Total Landings
17
Coordinates
-39.2608, 177.8659