A timely launch 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 Lab announced the deal on Wednesday, saying the mission will be launched from the company's space 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,” representing a relatively quick turnaround from contract signing to liftoff. In this schedule, Ororatech can “meet the seasonally sensitive requirements of its wildfire detection mission,” Rocket Lab said.
Infrared eyes … Ororatech's satellites will host thermal infrared cameras to provide 24/7 wildfire monitoring worldwide, supporting better and faster wildfire response to protect forests, people and infrastructure, according to Rocket Lab. These eight satellites follow the launch of Ororatech's first three prototype Wildfire Detection spacecraft since 2022. The company plans to expand its constellation by up to 100 satellites by 2028. Although this launch is not directly tied to the ongoing Wildfire crisis in South -California, Ororatech's, Mission highlights the role of space-based sensing for future firefighters. (submitted by Ellpeatea)
US Green-Lights 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, protects U.S. space technology exported to Norway. It will allow U.S. satellites and possibly vehicles to launch from Andøya spaceport, located on an island above the Arctic Circle in Norway.
A valuable alliance …There are no U.S. companies with publicly known plans to launch from Andøya, but the U.S. military has touted the value of allies in financing, launching, and operating space-based platforms for communications, navigation, and reconnaissance. This agreement, announced on January 16 in the final days of the Biden administration, follows similar space transfer agreements with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. German Rocket Startup ISAR Aerospace is scheduled to launch its first Norwegian spacecraft Spectrum Rocket as soon as this year. (submitted by Ellpeatea)
