Rocket Lab, a leading launch provider and space systems company, today
announced it has signed a rideshare agreement with Scottish / American
PocketQube satellite manufacturer, Alba Orbital, to launch a cluster of
small satellites designed to demonstrate innovative radio and night-time
Earth observation technologies.
The four pico-satellites in Alba Orbital’s cluster will fly as part of a
rideshare mission on Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle, lifting-off from
Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula in Q4, 2021. The cluster
includes Alba Orbital’s own Unicorn-2 PocketQube satellites, as well as the
TRSI-2, TRSI-3, and MyRadar-1 satellites for Alba Orbital’s customers. Each
small satellite carries a unique sensor designed to demonstrate innovative
technologies on orbit.
Unicorn-2 will be carrying an optical night-time imaging payload designed to
monitor light pollution across the globe. Night-time satellite imagery,
otherwise known as ‘Night Lights’ data, provides crucial insights into human
activities. This data enables a host of applications such as tracking
urbanization and socioeconomic dynamics, evaluating conflict and disasters,
investigating fisheries, assessing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,
and analyzing light pollution and health effects.
All four PocketQubes will be deployed to a circular orbit by Electron’s Kick
Stage, a nimble spacecraft that provides in-space propulsion and maneuvering
capability to ensure each satellite is deployed to a precise and unique
orbit defined by the customer.
“We’re delighted to be Alba Orbital’s mission partner once again,” said
Rocket Lab Founder and Chief Executive, Peter Beck. “The Alba Orbital team
have proven that incredibly small satellites can be highly capable and
deliver tangible insights and services back down to Earth at a fraction of
traditional satellite costs. Making it faster, easier and more affordable to
access space is a mission we share, so we’re excited to make it possible
with Electron.”
“It’s a pleasure to be working with Rocket Lab again on this exciting
mission,'' said Tom Walkinshaw, CEO and Founder of Alba Orbital. “We
successfully flew six satellites on board Rocket Lab’s ‘Running Out of
Fingers’ flight in 2019, and we are thrilled to launch the first of our
imaging constellation dedicated to imaging the Earth at night on board the
Electron rocket. From day one, Alba Orbital’s mission has always been to
democratize access to space, and Rocket Lab has demonstrated that they are
whole-heartedly committed to the same vision.”
The Alba cluster joins this mission alongside AuroraSat-1 from Aurora
Propulsion Technologies, a Finnish company dedicated to the sustainable use
of space. The mission is one of many scheduled to lift off on Electron from
Launch Complex 1 this year, including three back-to-back dedicated launches
for BlackSky Global, and the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon in support of
NASA’s Artemis program.
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