General Atomics Argos-4 Payload to be Launched by Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab has announced that it will launch the Argos-4 payload on a dedicated Electron mission for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS).
“The Argos international satellite system has been delivering crucial environmental data from space for more than 40 years, so we’re very proud to support this important legacy and ensure its resilience by providing reliable, dedicated launch services.”
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck.
Electron is scheduled to launch the “It Argos Up From Here” mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a launch window that opens October 5 UTC.
The “It Argos Up From Here” mission will launch the GA-EMS designed and manufactured Argos-4 payload carrying the A-DCS hosted 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.
“We are looking forward to completing the final milestones toward a launch countdown, as we grow closer to delivering NOAA’s latest environmental data collection and monitoring capabilities on orbit,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “Rocket Lab’s ability to provide us with a dedicated launch solution, and their demonstrated success in deploying small satellites into targeted low Earth orbit destinations complements GA-EMS’ commitment to offering efficient, reliable solutions that meet our customer’s unique mission requirements.”
Argos is an international program that collects data from some 18,000 transmitters operating around the globe, serving a host of applications including tracking of buoys, fishing vessels and wildlife; collection of environmental data such as ocean temperature profiles, river levels and animal heart rates; and observation of ocean parameters such as currents, temperature and color.
“The Argos international satellite system has been delivering crucial environmental data from space for more than 40 years, so we’re very proud to support this important legacy and ensure its resilience by providing reliable, dedicated launch services,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. “We’re delighted to be working with the team at General Atomics to make this important mission possible. The mission ultimately serves to better monitor and protect the environment on Earth, we’ll be doing our part to ensure environmental sustainability in space by once again performing an orbit lowering burn with the Kick Stage after payload deployment to rapidly accelerate the Kick Stage’s deorbit time, avoiding creating long term space debris.”
Argos-4 Payload will be Hosted on the GAzelle Satellite
The Argos-4 payload will be carried aboard the GA-EMS GAzelle satellite, which successfully completed the final review process for shipment to Rocket Lab’s Complex 1 launch facility on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. The launch date for the satellite with the Argos-4 payload is anticipated for no later than October 10, 2022.
“The Pre-Ship Review, or PSR, is the final review before we pack up and ship the spacecraft. The PSR provides our payload customers verification that all requirements are met, all testing to date is complete, and all ground operations are set to go,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “This is a very exciting time, as the team gets ready to travel to New Zealand to complete final preparations for satellite launch onboard a dedicated Rocket Lab Electron vehicle.”
GA-EMS designed and manufactured the GAzelle satellite at their Centennial, CO facilities and conducted all integration and testing for the Argos-4 instrument and the RadMon space radiation monitoring payloads. GA-EMS owns the satellite and is managing mission operations and control of the satellite throughout its five-year mission lifecycle.
(Source: Rocket Lab and General Atomics news releases. Images courtesy Rocket Lab and GA-EMS)