NRO to launch more payloads from New Zealand with Rocket Labs

Following Rocket Labs’ successful launch of the National Reconnaissance Office’s “Birds of a Feather” mission from New Zealand Jan. 31, the agency is partnering with the company again for its second launch of 2020 on March 27.

The launch was secured using the agency’s new Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket contract vehicle, an acquisition tool adopted in 2018 to leverage commercial small satellite launch capabilities. The NRO’s Jan. 31 launch with Rocket Labs was the first to use the new acquisition method.

“Under this approach, RASR allows the NRO to have a path to greater NRO launch resiliency and responsiveness. By leveraging commercial space launch capabilities where possible, the NRO can put space capabilities on orbit in a cost-effective manner,” the agency stated on Twitter March 9.

RELATED

Northrop Grumman conducts second static test of OmegA rocket

The OmegA rocket is Northrop Grumman’s entrant in the Space Force’s competition to select the next generation of vehicles for the National Security Space Launch program. The successful static test of its second stage engine conducted Feb. 27 keeps OmegA on track for a certification flight in 2021.

By Nathan Strout

Under the contract, Rocket Labs will launch three NRO payloads aboard one of its Electron rockets. The rocket will also carry several small satellites for NASA and the University of New South Wales.

The NRO has not provided details on its payloads or their mission.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Rocket Lab on another mission under our RASR contract,” Col. Chad Davis, director of the NRO’s Office of Space Launch, said in a statement. “This latest mission is a great example of the collaborative nature of the space community and our goal as space partners to procure rideshare missions that not only meet our mission needs but provide opportunities for those working with smallsats to gain easy access to space.”

The 14-day launch window for the mission, named “Don’t Stop Me Now,” opens March 27, with the company utilizing one of its New Zealand launch complexes. This will be the company’s 12 launch with the Electron rocket since the May 2017.

More In Space

Saab unveils technology incubator using Enforcer 3 as test bed

“We are trying to get capability to the fleet in months,” said Erik Smith, the chief executive of Saab's U.S. branch.

Lockheed to supply Australia with air battle management system

Overhauling Australia’s overhead defenses is expected to generate hundreds of local jobs as well as open the door to a multibillion-dollar export market.

Defense Innovation Unit prepares to execute $800 million funding boost

DIU Director Doug Beck said he doesn’t foresee any issues with quickly putting to work the $983 million in FY-24 funding Congress provided in March.

Army may swap AI bill of materials for simpler ‘baseball cards’

"We know innovation's happening in the open-source environment," said the Army's Bharat Patel. "We also know who's contributing to the open source."

How L3Harris is shoring up its small satellite supply chain

The president of L3Harris’ space systems sector, recently sat down with C4ISRNET to discuss the challenges of developing a diverse yet mature supply base.