Launch Detail
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Launch Detail
Pulling launch timing, vehicle context, weather signals, and mission evidence.
Launch detail
Rocket Lab • Electron • Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B (NA)

Rocket Lab • Electron • LC-1B
First 6U Cubesat carrying a miniaturized IR spectrometer, covering 0- 45 μm at 0.84 μm spectral resolution, operating for one seasonal cycle for NASAs PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission.

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First 6U Cubesat carrying a miniaturized IR spectrometer, covering 0- 45 μm at 0.84 μm spectral resolution, operating for one seasonal cycle for NASAs PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission.
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
Provider, rocket, pad, and booster history tied to this launch.
6100fd7d9f39405de86bbc273d258021c995d5e6193f226b4c8c551331bd9efbLinked via Spaceflight News API (SNAPI).
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ArticleNASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch a pair of CubeSats in 2024 as part of the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) mission which...
ArticleNASA selected Rocket Lab to launch a pair of cubesats in 2024 to monitor energy entering and exiting the polar regions of the planet.