The spaceflight firm Rocket Lab referred to as off a deliberate launch of half a dozen business satellites resulting from issues over sensor readings on Friday (Dec. 20).
Rocket Lab scrubbed what was to be its sixteenth Electron rocket flight of 2024 lower than 20 minutes earlier than deliberate liftoff at 10:03 a.m. EST (1503 GMT) from the corporate’s main launch website on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Fueling of the rocket had already begun on the time of the scrub.
“We’re standing down from in the present day’s launch try for Synspective to take a more in-depth take a look at sensor information,” Rocket Lab wrote in an replace on social media. “We now have backup alternatives within the coming days, so stand by for the brand new launch date shortly.”
The Rocket Lab mission, referred to as “Owl The Means Up,” is carrying six Strix radar imaging satellites for the Japan-based firm Synspective. Synspective is constructing a constellation of Strix satellites to “ship imagery that may detect millimetre-level modifications to the Earth’s floor from area,” Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description.
Synspective has booked 16 launches of Strix satellites with Rocket Lab. The primary Strix launch lifted off in December 2020. The upcoming “Owl The Means Up” mission would be the sixth Rocket Lab flight for Synspective.
As soon as Rocket Lab picks a brand new launch date for “Owl The Means Up,” the corporate is predicted to supply a livestream for the mission. You’ll watch the launch stay through Rocket Lab’s livestream web page and YouTube channel. The webcast will start about 20 minutes earlier than liftoff.
