Electron • TROPICS 5 & 6

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched the third pair of small CubeSats for NASA’s TROPICS mission. The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats, or TROPICS, mission will measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical cyclones. These two satellites were originally contracted to launch on Astra’s Rocket 3 vehicle. This mission was nicknamed “Coming To A Storm Near You” by Rocket Lab. Delayed from May 15, May 22, and May 24. Read our full story.