{"id":24474,"date":"2022-10-07T23:24:06","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T15:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/rocket-lab-launches-it-argos-up-from-here-mission\/"},"modified":"2022-10-07T23:24:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T15:24:06","slug":"rocket-lab-launches-it-argos-up-from-here-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/rocket-lab-launches-it-argos-up-from-here-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocket Lab launches \u201cIt Argos Up From Here\u201d mission"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rocket Lab has launched its 31st Electron rocket on the \u201cIt Argos Up From Here\u201d mission from Rocket Lab\u2019s private Launch Complex 1B (LC-1B), on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Liftoff occurred on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 6:09 AM NZT (17:09 UTC on Oct. 7).<\/p>\n<p>This launch marks Rocket Lab\u2019s eighth launch of 2022 and their fourth overall launch from LC-1B \u2013 one of Rocket Lab\u2019s three launch pads, which include LC-1A and LC-1B at Mahia, and LC-2 at Wallops in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The mission name \u201cIt Argos Up From Here\u201d is a play on words of the common colloquialism \u201cit\u2019s all downhill from here\u201d and the payload name, Argos-4. The payload consists of a single General Atomics satellite based on their GAzelle satellite bus.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Rocket Lab - It Argos Up From Here Launch\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TffmQR1K04M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This bus will be used to host several experiments for a variety of customers as part of their Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) mission and will be part of the Argos worldwide Data Collection System (Argo DCS) \u2013 a constellation that collects, processes, and releases environmental data around the world.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>It Argos Up From Here Updates<\/li>\n<li>Rocket Lab Forum Section<\/li>\n<li>L2 Master&nbsp;Section<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Argos DCS is part of a joint agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the French Space Agency\u2019s Centre National d\u2019Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Established in 1978, the Argos satellite constellation currently consists of seven operational satellites, with the oldest having been launched in 1998.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All of these satellites were launched into Sun-synchronous orbits with an altitude of ~850 km. This allows each satellite to view ~5,000 square km at a time and have a period of ~100 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX launch tickets<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>NASA mission patches<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space Shuttle<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>The largest and primary hosted payload is the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System, which will collect data from thousands of sensors from around the globe, and will then be used to monitor wildlife and fishing, maritime security, and non-environmental uses. Additionally, there will be several payloads onboard that will be used to monitor radiation in orbit.<\/p>\n<p>With a planned on-orbit lifespan of five years, the satellite is equipped with two deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries to power the satellite. The mass of the satellite is unknown; however, based on Electron\u2019s performance, the satellite masses no more than 180 kg.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89077\" class=\"wp-image-89077 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeQW_l5UUAUINNI.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1314\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeQW_l5UUAUINNI.jpg 1314w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeQW_l5UUAUINNI-230x350.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeQW_l5UUAUINNI-768x1169.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeQW_l5UUAUINNI-1170x1781.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1314px) 100vw, 1314px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-89077\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Argos-4 satellite in final preparations for launch. (Credit: Rocket Lab)<\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s countdown starts six hours before launch when the road to the launch site is closed, and two hours later, the rocket is raised vertically and the fueling of Electron\u2019s RP-1 tanks begins. 90 minutes later, the launch pad personnel exit the area, clearing the pad so operations can continue without any risk to humans.<\/p>\n<p>At T-2 hours, Electron begins to be filled with Liquid Oxygen (LOX) in both stages. Also at this time, the notice to mariners goes live, protecting boaters from the vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>At T-30 minutes, the airspace around the vehicle and its ascent corridor is closed. 12 minutes later, the launch director performs a go\/no-go poll wherein teams verify that the weather, rocket, ground service equipment, and range are ready to support the launch attempt.<\/p>\n<p>Assuming all teams are go, the vehicle continues to count down until T-2 minutes, when launch auto-sequence begins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All nine Rutherford engines ignited at T-2 seconds. Each 3D-printed Rutherford engine is electric pump-fed, meaning that instead of utilizing a gas generator or closed-cycle preburner to spin the turbopumps, an electric motor is used. This is possible due to the small size of Electron.<\/p>\n<p>Each engine produces 25 kN of thrust at sea level and 26 kN in a vacuum. The engine\u2019s impulse per unit mass (or Isp) in a vacuum is 343 seconds.<\/p>\n<p>Once all engines are at full thrust and all systems have been checked out, the vehicle commands the launch clamps to release the vehicle, and Electron shoots off the pad and reaches supersonic speeds (Mach 1) at T+56 seconds. 12 seconds later, the vehicle reaches maximum aerodynamic pressure, or Max-Q, which is the point in the flight where aerodynamic loads are at their strongest on Electron.<\/p>\n<p>Two minutes and 23 seconds into the flight, all first-stage engines shut down, followed shortly after by stage separation and ignition of the second stage\u2019s single vacuum-optimized Rutherford engine. The stages are separated by a pneumatic stage separation system, similar to SpaceX\u2019s separation system on the Falcon 9 rocket.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89074\" class=\"wp-image-89074 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1925\" height=\"1229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_.jpg 1925w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_-350x223.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_-548x350.jpg 548w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_-1920x1226.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/FeFs_FPUYAAwlm_-1170x747.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1925px) 100vw, 1925px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-89074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Payload integration of \u201cIt Argos Up From Here.\u201d (Credit: Rocket Lab)<\/p>\n<p>At T+2:57, the 1.2-meter diameter carbon fiber composite fairing halves separated from the vehicle, exposing the payload to the vacuum of space.<\/p>\n<p>At T+6:11, an event unique to the Electron occurs: the second stage ditches half of its batteries in an event known as \u201cbattery hot-swap.\u201d This simple hot-swap takes Electron from being able to put negligible mass into LEO to over 300 kg.<\/p>\n<p>The second stage burned until T+9:08 when the second stage engine cut off and the kick stage will separated from the second stage. At this point, the second stage coasts for a while, before safely lowering its orbit in an effort to reduce the amount of \u201cspace junk\u201d in Earth orbit.<\/p>\n<p>At T+51:26, the kick stage\u2019s Curie engine ignited for two minutes and 32 seconds to circularize the orbit to the final 750 km Sun-synchronous orbit. Argos-4 was deployed at T+54:58, completing the mission.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt Argos Up From Here\u201d marks the 132nd orbital launch attempt of 2022\u2013a significant increase in the number of orbital launches from previous years.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Lead image: Electron lifts off from LC-1B on \u201cIt Argos Up From Here.\u201d Credit: Rocket Lab)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rocket Lab has launched its 31st Electron rocket on the \u201cIt Argos Up From Here\u201d mission from Rocket Lab\u2019s private Launch Complex 1B (LC-1B), on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Liftoff occurred on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 6:09 AM NZT (17:09 UTC on Oct. 7). This launch marks Rocket Lab\u2019s eighth launch of 2022 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2417,690,545,8156,975,544,508],"class_list":["post-24474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-argos","tag-cnes","tag-electron","tag-lc-1b","tag-noaa","tag-rocket-lab","tag-smallsat"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24474"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24474\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}