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A Rocket Lab Electron rocket takes off from New Zealand’s Mahia peninsula, marking another impressive step in space exploration. The photograph, captured by Rocket Lab, beautifully captures the essence of the moment.
July 13 (UPI) — Rocket Lab, based in California, has an exciting initiative underway. They plan to launch seven miniature satellites that will play a crucial role in gathering data on Earth’s atmosphere, leading to improved weather forecasting. Additionally, these satellites will replace a decommissioned technology spacecraft and carry twin navigation satellites into space to enhance navigation capabilities.
The exciting mission, known as Baby Come Back, is scheduled to take place as early as Friday. Rocket Lab will utilize its Electron rocket for the launch, which will take place from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The launch window will open at 7:30 p.m. EDT and close at 9:30 p.m.
While the initial target date is set, Rocket Lab has accounted for the possibility of a delay of up to two weeks.
One of the noteworthy aspects of this mission is Rocket Lab’s attempt to recover the first stage. After parachute descent and pickup by a customized ship, the booster will undergo analysis at Rocket Lab’s production complex. If possible, the booster will be refurbished for future use.
Unlike SpaceX, Rocket Lab currently lacks the capability to land a booster on a recovery ship or on land. This has led to creative attempts at recovery, including mid-air retrieval by helicopter. Unfortunately, these attempts have been unsuccessful so far. In the first try, the helicopter successfully grabbed the booster but accidentally dropped it into the sea. The second attempt was called off due to a temporary loss of telemetry data.
For now, Rocket Lab will continue to recover boosters from the ocean.
“Extensive analysis of returned stages shows that Electron withstands an ocean splashdown ….” states a company spokesperson. “As a result, Rocket Lab is moving forward with marine operations as the primary method of recovering Electron for re-flight.”
One of the highlights of this mission is NASA’s involvement. With the launch of four CubeSat spacecraft, NASA will test swarm technology, which showcases satellite collaboration in diverse roles through in-space network communications and navigation between spacecraft.
The testing phase will involve autonomous maneuvering to study how small spacecraft can perform independent observations, providing valuable insights for future science missions.
Furthermore, a pair of 3U satellites provided by Spire Global Inc., based in Virginia, will monitor Earth’s turbulent atmosphere in real time. By analyzing the interaction between radio waves from GPS satellites and the atmosphere, these satellites will contribute to improving the accuracy of long-term weather forecasts.
Lastly, a technology demonstration satellite by Telesat, a Canadian provider, will be flown to replace a decommissioned prototype. This satellite will enable Telesat to continue providing service to customers through its broadband constellation of low Earth orbit satellites.
In contrast to geostationary satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of 22,300 miles, low Earth orbit satellites operate at a few hundred miles above the planet’s surface and can be utilized for communication purposes. Although they may not have the capacity to transmit large amounts of data required for television transmissions, their versatility makes them essential.
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