Rocket Lab launches two shoebox-sized satellites for NASA's storm-tracking TROPICS mission

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket launched a pair of shoebox-sized satellites for NASA's TROPICS mission on Thursday, May 25. The two storm-tracking satellites were successfully deployed from the rocket following a launch from Launch Complex 1 at Māhia, New Zealand at 11:46 p.m. EDT.

The mission team is now working to seek signal acquisition from the two CubeSats, which will join another pair of TROPICS satellites that made it to orbit earlier this month. The full constellation will provide near-hourly data that could improve forecasts of tropical cyclones and severe weather.

"NASA will continue to assess data from periodic pass opportunities over ground stations located across the globe. It is not unexpected for CubeSats to take some time to establish communications. We will provide confirmation when signal is acquired," the agency said.

Liftoff! Two small satellites are on the way to join two already in orbit for our TROPICS mission. TROPICS will provide near-hourly data that could improve forecasts of tropical cyclones and severe weather. pic.twitter.com/VScwoPl4bR

— NASA (@NASA) May 26, 2023

TROPICS, short for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats, will study the formation and development of tropical cyclones, called hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the West Pacific, making observations of temperature, precipitation, water vapour, and cloud ice more often than what is possible with current weather satellites.