Argos-4 Environmental Monitoring Instrument is Payload for 31st Rocket Lab Launch

Rocket Lab is preparing to launch its 31st Electron rocket and 151st satellite to orbit during a dedicated mission to place the GAzelle satellite built by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) fitted with the Argos-4 environmental monitoring instrument into orbit.

The “It Argos Up From Here” mission will launch the GA-EMS-designed and manufactured GAzelle environmental monitoring satellite carrying the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection (A-DCS) payload. The A-DCS mission is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Data and Rescue Services Program, which arranged the launch through the Hosted Payload Solutions contract vehicle administered by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command.

Argos-4 Environmental Monitoring Instrument Supplements Argos Network in Orbit

Once in orbit, Argos-4 will join a network of other Argos instruments in orbit to collect a variety of data from both stationary and mobile transmitters around the world. This vital information helps provide a better understanding of Earth’s physical and biological environment, including its weather and climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as assist with maritime security, offshore pollution, and humanitarian assistance.

The Argos-4 payload is part of the international Argos program that collects data from thousands of sensors and transmitters located around the world. Argos data is collected and distributed for use in numerous applications, and helps provide a better understanding of Earth’s physical and biological environment, including its weather and climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as assist with maritime security, offshore pollution, and humanitarian assistance. Information gathered via the Argos system also enables industries to comply with environmental protection regulations. Argos has most famously been used to track wildlife, particularly marine mammals and sea turtles since the 1980s. There are currently 22,000 active transmitters around the world that the Argos system is monitoring, with almost 7,800 tracking wildlife.

The launch will take place from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The launch window opens 17:09 UTC on October 7th (06:09 NZDT, October 8th). Back-up opportunities are available in following days to accommodate potential weather delays to the launch.

The delivery of the GAzelle satellite was contracted to General Atomics by the United States Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center under a Hosted Payload Solutions mission delivery order for the Argos Advanced Data Collection System, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Argos-4 instrument onboard spacecraft was provided by France’s National Center for Space Studies.

(Images provided with Rocket Lab news release)