Scheduled for launch in May 2021 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the ‘Running Out of Toes’, mission will be Rocket Lab’s 20th Electron launch overall and the second of three planned ocean splashdown recovery missions. The mission will see Electron deploy two Earth-observation satellites for BlackSky’s global monitoring constellation.
While Electron’s second stage delivers the satellites to orbit, Electron’s first stage will undertake a series of complex maneuvers designed to enable the stage to survive the extreme heat and forces of atmospheric re-entry on the way back to Earth.
Running Out Of Toes is the first in a series of dedicated launches this year through Spaceflight Inc. for BlackSky, a leading provider of real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services. Two of BlackSky’s 130 kg class satellites will be launched on this mission in support of the aggressive scaling of BlackSky’s satellite constellation to meet the demand for real-time global monitoring and analysis services for public and private organizations. These satellites will join three existing BlackSky satellites launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle across 2019 and earlier this year.
- Mission Name: Running Out Of Toes
- Rocket: Electron
- Electron Name: Running Out Of Toes
- Launch Window: NET May 2021
- Launch Time: TBC
- Launch Site: Launch Complex 1
A live broadcast of the mission will be available on launch day at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream
