Rocket Lab Launches An "Owl Night Long" Mission, Delivering Fourth Satellite for Synspective

Rocket Lab notched another successful launch on Tuesday, March 13th, marking their third mission of 2024. This mission, dubbed "Owl Night Long," was particularly significant as it delivered the fourth satellite for their long-time partner, Synspective, a Japanese Earth-imaging company.

Lifting off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, the Electron rocket soared into the night sky. Its payload? The StriX-3 satellite, the latest addition to Synspective's growing constellation.

StriX-3 joins its predecessors – StriX-α, StriX-β, and StriX-1 – in a Sun Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of 561 kilometers. These satellites are all part of the StriX-series, which utilize synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology. SAR allows Synspective to image Earth's surface in exceptional detail, independent of weather conditions or the time of day.

This launch continues a successful partnership between Rocket Lab and Synspective. Since December 2020, Rocket Lab has delivered all four of Synspective's StriX satellites to orbit. With two more launches planned as part of a multi-launch agreement, this collaboration is key to building out Synspective's Earth-observation capabilities.

"Owl Night Long" is another win for Rocket Lab, solidifying their position as a reliable launch provider for small satellites. The mission also highlights the growing importance of SAR technology in Earth observation, providing valuable data for applications in disaster monitoring, infrastructure development, and environmental research.