Insider Brief
- Rocket Lab USA has secured a contract with Orora Technologies, a German company focused on wildfire detection, for a responsive launch of its Electron rocket.
- The mission will deploy eight satellites into a 550km orbit from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, with a swift turnaround time of just four months from contract signing.
- The upcoming launch will add the OTC-P1 satellite plane to OroraTech’s existing constellation, expanding its capabilities for first responders, governments, and industry partners. By 2028, OroraTech plans to expand the constellation to up to 100 satellites.
Rocket Lab USA announced it has secured a contract with Orora Technologies, a German company focused on wildfire detection, for a responsive launch of its Electron rocket. The mission will deploy eight satellites into a 550km orbit from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, with a swift turnaround time of just four months from contract signing.
OroraTech is building a satellite constellation equipped with thermal infrared cameras designed to provide continuous, global monitoring of wildfires. The goal is to enhance wildfire detection and response times, helping protect people, infrastructure, and forests around the world. The upcoming launch will add the OTC-P1 satellite plane to OroraTech’s existing constellation, expanding its capabilities for first responders, governments, and industry partners. By 2028, OroraTech plans to expand the constellation to up to 100 satellites.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, highlighted the benefits of the dedicated Electron launch, emphasizing its flexibility and quick timeline. He said, “This launch is a showcase of all the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: control over schedule, agility and ability to meet tight deadlines and mission requirements, and the reliability of launching on the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket.” Beck noted the importance of fast satellite deployment to support wildfire monitoring and response efforts globally.
This launch adds to a busy 2025 launch schedule for Rocket Lab, which includes continuing contracts with constellation operators Synspective, Kineis, and BlackSky. The company will also support a responsive space mission for the U.S. Space Force, and it plans to debut its new medium-lift, reusable rocket, Neutron.
Image credit: OroraTech
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