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        Rocket Lab, a space travel and launch company, has launched a South Korean Earth observation satellite and a NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) into orbit, designed to use sunlight, promoting efficient and fuel-free space exploration.
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        The ACS3 aims to expand solar sailing technology using the sunlight's force to propel spacecraft. This launch will test the deployment of new composite booms to unfurl the solar sail. The company intends to design a larger solar sail system for space weather prediction, asteroid reconnaissance, and solar polar regions using the data gathered from this mission.
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        Rocket Lab claims that the ACS3 offers efficiency in space exploration and the potential for fuel-free missions. The technology can also be used for early-warning satellites for space weather, surveillance missions for asteroids and other small astronomical bodies, and missions observing the sun's polar regions.
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    <a href="https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-nasa-solar-sail-tech-launch-april-2024">
      Space
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Space Travel and Exploration Tech

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 <p>Rocket Lab, which is a company that specializes in space travel and launches, has successfully launched a South Korean Earth observation satellite and an Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) from NASA into orbit. The ACS3 uses sunlight to power its propulsion, presenting a fuel-free and efficient method of space exploration.</p>
 <p>The main goal of the ACS3 is to further develop solar sailing technology. Using the force of sunlight, it intends to propel spacecraft. A significant aspect of this launch is testing the deployment of new composite booms, which are used to unfurl the solar sail. With the data gathered from this mission, Rocket Lab has plans to design a larger solar sail system. This expanded solar sail system will be primarily used for tasks such as space weather prediction, asteroid reconnaissance, and observations of solar polar regions.</p>
 <p>According to Rocket Lab, the ACS3 is a crucial tool for efficient space exploration. It potentially makes fuel-free space missions a reality. Apart from this, it can also be employed in satellites that provide early warnings about space weather, surveillance missions that monitor asteroids and other minor astronomical objects, and missions that focus on studying the sun's polar regions.</p>

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Rocket Lab launches South Korean Earth-observation satellite and NASA solar-sailing tech

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 <p>Rocket Lab, a space travel and launch company, has received a USD 14.49 million contract from the US Space Force. The contract is for launching an Electron mission from Launch Complex 2 to journey into very low Earth orbit.</p>
 <p>Tagged as Space Test Program-30 (STP-330), this mission is planned to take off in 2026. The launch will be facilitated by a Rocket Lab Electron small launch vehicle from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport situated at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.</p>
 <p>The STP-S30 mission will carry a payload weighing 200 kilograms. The payload is a NASA-funded plate-shaped satellite known as DiskSat, created by Aerospace Corp. It has been conceived as a potential alternative to the CubeSat.</p>
 
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Rocket Lab raises USD 14.5 million in contract funding

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 <p>Rocket Lab's Electron, an orbital launch vehicle, has successfully launched an Astroscale spacecraft. This marks the second launch conducted by Rocket Lab in 2024, with the previous launch involving four satellites for NorthStar Earth and Space in January.</p>
 <p>This particular launch deployed the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) spacecraft. Weighing 150 kilograms, the satellite was placed into an orbit of approximately 600 km, 64 minutes post liftoff.</p>
 <p>ADRAS-J is a product of Astroscale, developed under Phase 1 of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) program. The initiative involves approaching and inspecting the upper stage of a H-2A rocket, measuring 11 meters in length and 4 meters in diameter, that launched the GOSAT Earth observation satellite in 2009. The future outlook involves the prospect of sending a spacecraft to this upper stage to make attempts for de-orbiting.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/23224"> October 2024 </a> , Rocket Lab reported plans to launch the Rocket Lab Mission to Venus. This privately funded mission aims to search for evidence of life in the atmosphere of Venus and aims for a launch in December 2024. The mission will send a small spacecraft equipped with an autofluorescence nephelometer to detect organic compounds in droplets in the clouds of Venus.</p>

Rocket Lab launches Astroscale spacecraft for inspection mission

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 <ul>
  <li><p>Rocket Lab plans to launch the Rocket Lab Mission to Venus, a privately funded mission to search for evidence of life in the atmosphere of Venus. The launch is scheduled for December 30, 2024.</p></li>
  <li><p>The mission will send a small spacecraft equipped with an autofluorescence nephelometer to detect organic compounds in droplets in the clouds of Venus. It will collect data during descent through the planet's upper atmosphere before reaching its limit of 20 atmospheres of pressure.</p></li>
  <li><p>Rocket Lab aims to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost interplanetary missions and hopes to generate more interest in this type of mission. The company's use of existing designs and hardware from a previous mission to the moon helps keep costs down.</p></li>
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Rocket Lab plans to launch the Rocket Lab Mission to Venus, a privately funded mission to search for evidence of life in the atmosphere of Venus. The launch is scheduled for December 30, 2024.

The mission will send a small spacecraft equipped with an autofluorescence nephelometer to detect organic compounds in droplets in the clouds of Venus. It will collect data during descent through the planet's upper atmosphere before reaching its limit of 20 atmospheres of pressure.

Rocket Lab aims to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost interplanetary missions and hopes to generate more interest in this type of mission. The company's use of existing designs and hardware from a previous mission to the moon helps keep costs down.

Rocket Lab plans late 2024 launch of Venus mission

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  <li><p>Rocket Lab has received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume launches of its Electron rocket from its New Zealand launch complex after a mission failure in September. The company is conducting a thorough investigation into the anomaly before resuming missions.</p></li>
  <li><p>The September anomaly occurred during the 41st Electron launch, and Rocket Lab is working to determine the root cause. The company is conducting a comprehensive test campaign and reviewing all potential causes for the anomaly.</p></li>
  <li><p>Rocket Lab expects to complete the full review and investigation in the coming weeks and return to flight before the end of the year. It did not disclose the specific details of the anomaly but described it as something complex and extremely rare that had not been encountered before.</p></li>
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Rocket Lab projects Electron’s return to flight in fourth quarter

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket experienced a failure during the launch of Capella Space's radar imaging satellite. The rocket encountered an issue about two minutes and 30 seconds into the flight, resulting in the mission being terminated. The failure was due to a malfunction in the rocket's upper stage. Rocket Lab apologized for the failure and pledged to investigate and resolve the issue promptly. However, this is the third failure for the Electron rocket, raising concerns about its reliability and the company's ability to increase launch rates. Capella, a satellite management company, has had previous successful deployments with Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab’s Electron fails during Capella Space launch

Rocket Lab has converted Virgin Orbit's former headquarters into an engine development center. The facility will be used for the production of Rocket Lab's Rutherford engine and the development of the Archimedes engine for the Neutron launch vehicle. Rocket Lab won the complex in a bankruptcy auction for $16.1 million. The acquisition allows Rocket Lab to increase its engine production capabilities and support its goal of producing larger volumes of engines and composite components. Rocket Lab is also building a production complex and launch pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility for the Neutron launch vehicle. In Q2 2023, Rocket Lab secured contracts for 10 launches of its Electron rocket.

All Updates

Rocket Lab launches South Korean Earth-observation satellite and NASA solar-sailing tech

Rocket Lab raises USD 14.5 million in contract funding

Rocket Lab launches Astroscale spacecraft for inspection mission

Rocket Lab plans late 2024 launch of Venus mission

Rocket Lab projects Electron’s return to flight in fourth quarter

Rocket Lab’s Electron fails during Capella Space launch

Rocket Lab turns old Virgin Orbit facilities into engine development complex

Rocket Lab signs dedicated launch deal with iQPS

Rocket Lab to launch pair of NASA Earth science cubesats

Rocket Lab reports strong Q2 performance and gains momentum for neutron rocket development