Rocket Lab launched an Earth observation satellite for the Japanese company Synspective
The American company Rocket Lab launched a radar satellite for Earth observation. The satellite was developed for the Japanese company Synspective and is designed to collect Earth remote sensing data from space.
The Electron launch vehicle, carrying the Strix satellite, lifted off from a spaceport in New Zealand on Friday, May 22, at 12:33 p.m. Kyiv time.
If all goes according to plan, the rocket will place the Strix satellite into a low Earth orbit at an altitude of 572 kilometers.
Rocket Lab previously stated that Synspective is creating “a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems over Japan that will provide data for urban planning, construction and infrastructure monitoring, and disaster response.”
SAR satellites can see through clouds and observe the Earth under any lighting conditions, even in the dark.
"Viva La Strix" was the ninth mission Rocket Lab has carried out for Synspective. In addition, 18 more missions are planned by 2030 to launch the rest of the Synspective satellite constellation into orbit.
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