Rocket Lab, the leading launch and space systems company, today announced it
will open a launch window from tomorrow to launch a research and development
satellite to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand for the
United States Space Force (USSF).
The dedicated mission is scheduled for lift-off on July 29, 2021 NZT (July
29 UTC) and will see Electron deploy an Air Force Research
Laboratory-sponsored demonstration satellite called Monolith. The satellite
will explore and demonstrate the use of a deployable sensor, where the
sensor’s mass is a substantial fraction of the total mass of the spacecraft,
changing the spacecraft’s dynamic properties and testing ability to maintain
spacecraft attitude control. Analysis from the use of a deployable sensor
aims to enable the use of smaller satellite buses when building future
deployable sensors such as weather satellites, thereby reducing the cost,
complexity, and development timelines. The satellite will also provide a
platform to test future space protection capabilities.
The launch window extends for 12 days, with lift-off scheduled as follows:
NZT: 18:00 – 20:00
UTC: 06:00 – 08:00
EDT: 02:00 – 04:00
PDT: 23:00 – 01:00
The mission was procured by the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test
Program (STP) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), both based at
Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.; in partnership with the Defense
Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative
(RALI). The mission is being managed by the Launch Enterprise’s Small
Launch and Targets Division, which is part of the USSF’s launch organization
of choice. The mission has been named ‘It’s a Little Chile Up Here’ in a nod
to the beloved green chile of New Mexico where the Space Test Program is
based.
‘It’s a Little Chile Up Here’ will be Rocket Lab’s fourth launch for the
year and the company’s 21st Electron launch overall.
Originally slated for lift-off from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on NASA’s Wallops Island, Virginia, the
mission has been transferred to Launch Complex 1 (LC-1) in New Zealand while
NASA continues certification processes for autonomous flight termination
system software for launches from LC-2.
The mission follows on from a previous Rocket Lab launch under the same
agreement, the STP-27RD mission launched by Electron in May 2019. That
mission, named ‘’That’s a Funny Looking Cactus’, saw Electron deploy three
research and development satellites for the Space Test Program.
“We’re excited to have another Electron on the pad for the Space Test
Program,” said Rocket Lab CEO and founder, Peter Beck. “We’re proud to once
again demonstrate the flexible and resilient space access required by our
government partners. The Space Test Program has a long history of developing
advanced space and launch capabilities that we’ve all come to rely on, from
global positioning systems, satellite communications, meteorological
satellites, and space domain awareness capabilities. We’re proud to support
the continuation of that innovation through rapid and agile launch on
Electron.”