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Rocket Lab "Owl The Way Up" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz
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Owl The Way Up

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-12-21 14:13 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (NZDT) | 2024-12-22 03:13 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customers | Synspective | | Payload | StriX satellite | | Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into Sun-Synchronous Orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/@RocketLabNZ/streams (scrub) | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K18IPBBMxxE (scrub) | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lgi4-3pKK4 |

Stats

  • This will be the 16th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
  • This will be the 58th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

This is the second of a bulk buy of two Electron launches by Synspective to deliver their StriX satellites to low Earth orbit. StriX satellites can collect data with a ground resolution of 1-3m and a swath width of more than 10-30km. Each Electron launch will deliver 1 StriX satellite into orbit. This will be the overall 6th StriX satellite launched by Rocket Lab for Synspective.

Previous mission: Stonehenge

Next mission: TBD

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively new community, so feedback is very valuable!

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[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Curie ignition confirmed.

The people in mission control are wearing Santa/elf hats.

Edit: Curie cutoff and payload deployment confirmed.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

SECO, third stage separation, and nominal transfer orbit. Curie engine burn in roughly 40 minutes.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Battery hotswap confirmed.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

MECO, stage separation, stage 2 ignition, and fairing jettison confirmed.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

Liftoff!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 17 hours ago

LOx load complete: https://x.com/RocketLab/status/1870458371494793632

Before and after LOx ❄️

T-60 minutes until lift-off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7VZB4pHJrQ

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Well, that was a short webcast. Launch scrubbed for the day.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/1869623681586274779

We made a list (of launch commit criteria), checked it twice (against the weather forecast), and determined conditions for lift-off were naughty not nice.

As a result we're now targeting 21 Dec NZT for the launch of 'Owl The Way Up' for @Synspective.

⏰NZT | 3:00 am, 21 Dec
⏰PT | 6:00 am, 20 Dec
⏰ET | 9:00 am, 20 Dec
⏰UTC | 14:00, 20 Dec

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 days ago

Hmm I don't think I'll watch this one live. I have work tomorrow 😆

Is this the last mission of the year?

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Possibly. There are a couple more listed as "NET December 2024" on NextSpaceflight, but I wouldn't be surprised if these slip to 2025.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 days ago

What is NET in this context. No estimated time?

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

"No Earlier Than", in this context.

By the way, the launch has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning :)

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 days ago

Ah OK, so good chance of being next year then.

Rescheduled for tomorrow morning but it's still 3am 😆. I struggle to stay up to midnight these days!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

so good chance of being next year then

Yep! And Murielle Baker just confirmed that this is their final launch of the year.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 12 hours ago

I watched the launch coverage this morning after I woke up. Do other companies do funny things like checking in with the north pole on the preflight checks or is RocketLab a bit unique like that?

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

I think that particular preflight check might have been added due to launch date's proximity to Christmas :)

I don't recall any other launch providers including a north pole preflight check, but Firefly included a "pointy end up, flamey end down" check when they partnered with Everyday Astronaut to livestream their first launch.

Edit; found it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HfHAazNM3Q&t=1095s

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 11 hours ago

Haha that's great!

this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2024
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