TOKYO, 2024, February 21– Synspective Inc., a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and analytic solutions provider, announced today the official launch schedule of StriX-3, the company’s SAR satellite.
Scheduled Date of Launch
The StriX-3 mission is scheduled to launch during an 8-day window that opens on March 9th UTC.
The launch may be postponed or canceled due to unforeseen weather conditions or complications.
For the latest information, please visit our StriX Launch Mission Page: https://synspective.com/mission-strix3/
Launch Vehicle / Location
The mission is scheduled for lift-off from Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle at the Rocket Lab Launch Complex on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand.
Target Orbit
Sun Synchronous Orbit, altitude 561 km
About StriX-3
StriX-3 is the company’s fourth SAR satellite, following StriX-α, StriX-β, and StriX-1, launched in December 2020, March, and September 2022, respectively.
One noteworthy feature of StriX-3 is its ability to create and manage satellites using the same design as StriX-1. To successfully construct the desired satellite constellation, the capability to produce several satellites concurrently, effectively parallel production, is necessary. StriX-3 will equip us with this proficiency and facilitate continuous enhancement, making the assembly of the constellation considerably more efficient.
StriX-3 Performance Table
Frequency Band
Remarks
Dr. Motoyuki Arai, Synspective Founder and CEO:
“I am delighted to be able to take on another challenge with the Rocket Lab team, who have led us to launch three satellites into their target orbits successfully. I also want to express my gratitude to the dedicated teams of both companies and everyone involved in the StriX-3 project. StriX-3 is our fourth satellite, enabling us to offer more data services to our new and existing customers. This year, we plan to expand our business through multiple launches, and StriX-3 will be the first satellite aimed at full-scale constellation operations. Through this launch, we will advance our understanding of the manufacturing process, enhance our satellite operation know-how, increase the volume of data supply, and strengthen our data analysis capabilities. To address all sustainable development challenges within our generation, we will push forward our analytics platform business, enabling societal progress through data-driven insights and collective learning.”
Toshihiro Obata, Synspective Board Director and Head of Technology Strategy Office:
“I am thrilled that the much-awaited launch of StriX-3 is approaching, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this project. We learned a lot during the satellite manufacturing process, which will help us set up a new factory and a system for the parallel production of multiple satellites. By leveraging our accumulated knowledge, we’ve enhanced this satellite’s image generation capabilities, enabling broader applications across various use cases. We will fulfill our customers’ imaging demands with this satellite and accelerate the development of solutions, including SAR interferometry and disaster response. As a first step, we will prepare for the StriX-3 launch and perform functional verification post-launch. Please stay tuned.”
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 176 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand, one of which is currently operational, and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in early 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com
About Synspective
Synspective provides one-stop solutions using satellite observation data to steadily move the world forward. Applying the results of the ImPACT program (led by the Government of Japan, Cabinet Office), Synspective is building a constellation of 30 high-frequency, high-resolution SAR satellites to provide data and solutions to government and commercial outfits.
