A timely release for Rocket Lab. A dedicated flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher will soon deploy eight small spacecraft for a German company building a constellation of wildfire monitoring satellites. rocket laboratory announced the deal on Wednesdaysaying the mission will launch from the company’s spaceport in New Zealand. The eight satellites are owned by the German startup OroraTech. Rocket Lab said the launch will take place in “just a few weeks,” which represents a relatively quick turnaround from contract signing to liftoff. This schedule will allow OroraTech to “meet the seasonally sensitive requirements of its wildfire detection mission,” Rocket Lab said.
infrared eyes …OroraTech satellites will host thermal infrared cameras to provide 24/7 monitoring of wildfires around the world, supporting better and faster response to wildfires to protect the forests, people and infrastructure, according to Rocket Lab. These eight satellites follow the launch of OroraTech’s first three wildfire detection spacecraft prototypes starting in 2022. The company plans to expand its constellation with up to 100 satellites by 2028. While this launch is not directly related to the current wildfire crisis in Southern California, OroraTech’s mission highlights the role of space sensing for future firefighters. (brought to you by EllPeaTea)
The United States gives the green light to space-related exports to Norway. The United States and Norway have signed an agreement to allow the export of American space hardware to Norway for launches there. Space news reports. The Technology Safeguards Agreement, or TSA, guarantees protection for American space technology exported to Norway. It allows US satellites and potentially launch vehicles to operate from the Andøya spaceport, located on an island above the Arctic Circle in Norway.
A valuable alliance …There are no US companies with publicly known plans to launch from Andøya, but the US military has touted the value of allies in financing, launching and operating space platforms for communications, navigation and reconnaissance. This agreement, announced on January 16 in the final days of the Biden administration, follows similar space technology transfer agreements with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. German rocket startup Isar Aerospace plans to launch its first Spectrum rocket from the Norwegian spaceport this year. (brought to you by EllPeaTea)