2023-06-22 09:50:59 ET
Rocket Lab USA ( NASDAQ: RKLB ) announced on Thursday that it has signed a dedicated launch deal with Spire Global ( NYSE: SPIR ) to deliver its first four Space Situational Awareness satellites to low Earth orbit for its Space Services customer NorthStar Earth & Space.
The dedicated mission on Electron will deploy the satellites to a 530km circular orbit from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens in September of this year.
Spire Global ( SPIR ) is noted to have selected Rocket Lab ( RKLB ) to launch the satellites on an accelerated timeline within five months of contract signing. Spire has previously launched with Rocket Lab on Electron’s first two commercial missions.
Rocket Lab founder/CEO Peter Beck said Electron’s agility, reliability, and proven precision to place satellites exactly where they need to go makes dedicated missions like the one for Spire and NorthStar the company's bread and butter.
Notably, the mission was originally manifested to launch with a now defunct launch provider, but has been added to Rocket Lab’s launch manifest to provide an expedited launch.
Shares of Rocket Lab ( RKLB ) fell 5.40% in morning trading on Thursday.
More on Rocket Lab:
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For further details see:
Rocket Lab to launch space junk monitoring mission for Spire Global