\nRocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (\u201cRocket Lab\u201d or \u201cthe Company\u201d), a leading launch and space systems company, is preparing for the first of two dedicated Electron launches to deploy a constellation of storm monitoring satellites for NASA.<\/p>\n
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20230506005008\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket on the pad at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand ahead of the ‘Rocket Like a Hurricane’ launch, the first of two dedicated Electron launches for NASA to deploy the TROPICS storm-monitoring constellation. (Photo: Business Wire)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \nThe first launch, called \u2018Rocket Like a Hurricane,\u2019 is scheduled for lift-off no earlier than 13:00 on May 8th<\/sup> NZST from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand\u2019s Mahia Peninsula. The launch window extends for two hours and there are back up opportunities throughout May should the launch date need to be adjusted.<\/p>\n Launch Window: \nThe TROPICS constellation (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) will monitor the formation and evolution of tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, and will provide rapidly updating observations of storm intensity. This data will help scientists better understand the processes that effect these high-impact storms, ultimately leading to improved modelling and prediction. The constellation, which is part of NASA\u2019s Earth System Science Pathfinder Program, consists of four CubeSats that require launch to a specific orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers and inclination of about 30 degrees. All four satellites need to be deployed into their operational orbit within a 60-day period. The second launch \u2018Coming To a Storm Near You\u2019 is expected to launch approximately two weeks following the successful launch of \u201cRocket Like a Hurricane.\u201d<\/p>\n \nThe live launch webcast will be available at www.rocketlabusa.com\/live-stream<\/a> from around T-20 minutes on launch day. Follow Rocket Lab on Twitter @RocketLab for real time mission updates on launch day.<\/p>\n \n\u201cElectron has been providing reliable and dedicated launch for NASA since 2018, including a successful mission to the Moon last year, and it\u2019s an honor to be entrusted once again for the TROPICS launches,\u201d said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. \u201cWe\u2019re immensely grateful to play a role in equipping scientists and researchers with more accurate and timely data about the formation and intensity of tropical storms to help protect lives and livelihoods.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\u2018Rocket Like a Hurricane\u2019 will be Rocket Lab\u2019s fourth Electron mission for 2023 and the Company\u2019s 36th<\/sup> launch overall since Rocket Lab\u2019s first Electron launch in 2017. The TROPICS launches follow on from previous successful Electron missions for NASA, including the ELaNa-19 mission and CAPSTONE mission to the Moon.<\/p>\n \nABOUT Rocket Lab<\/p>\n \nFounded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, 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, the Photon satellite platform and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 159 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\u2019s 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 and a third pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nForward Looking Statements<\/p>\n \nThis press release may contain certain \u201cforward-looking statements\u201d within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this release, including statements regarding our expectations of financial results for first quarter 2023, strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, \u201canticipate,\u201d \u201caim,\u201d \u201cbelieve,\u201d \u201ccontemplate,\u201d \u201ccontinue,\u201d \u201ccould,\u201d \u201cdesign,\u201d \u201cestimate,\u201d \u201cexpect,\u201d \u201cintend,\u201d \u201cmay,\u201d \u201cmight,\u201d \u201cplan,\u201d \u201cpossible,\u201d \u201cpotential,\u201d \u201cpredict,\u201d \u201cproject,\u201d \u201cseek,\u201d \u201cshould,\u201d \u201csuggest,\u201d \u201cstrategy,\u201d \u201ctarget,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d \u201cwould,\u201d and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Rocket Lab\u2019s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab\u2019s control), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including risks related to the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to government restrictions and lock-downs in New Zealand and other countries in which we operate that could delay or suspend our operations; delays and disruptions in expansion efforts; our dependence on a limited number of customers; the harsh and unpredictable environment of space in which our products operate which could adversely affect our launch vehicle and spacecraft; increased congestion from the proliferation of low Earth orbit constellations which could materially increase the risk of potential collision with space debris or another spacecraft and limit or impair our launch flexibility and\/or access to our own orbital slots; increased competition in our industry due in part to rapid technological development and decreasing costs; technological change in our industry which we may not be able to keep up with or which may render our services uncompetitive; average selling price trends; failure of our launch vehicles, spacecraft and components to operate as intended either due to our error in design in production or through no fault of our own; launch schedule disruptions; supply chain disruptions, product delays or failures; design and engineering flaws; launch failures; natural disasters and epidemics or pandemics; changes in governmental regulations including with respect to trade and export restrictions, or in the status of our regulatory approvals or applications; or other events that force us to cancel or reschedule launches, including customer contractual rescheduling and termination rights; risks that acquisitions may not be completed on the anticipated time frame or at all or do not achieve the anticipated benefits and results; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab\u2019s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the \u201cSEC\u201d), including under the heading \u201cRisk Factors\u201d in Rocket Lab\u2019s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on March 7, 2023, and elsewhere (including that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks discussed therein). There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those that we have anticipated. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.<\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20230506005008\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \nRocket Lab Media Contact KEYWORDS:<\/b> California Australia\/Oceania New Zealand United States North America<\/p>\n INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:<\/b> Engineering Technology Satellite Aerospace Manufacturing Software<\/p>\n![\"Rocket](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20230506005008\/en\/1785859\/4\/DJI_0171.jpg\")
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<\/b>NZST: 13:00 \u2013 15:00, May 8
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UTC: 01:00 \u2013 03:00, May 8
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EDT: 21:00 \u2013 23:00, May 7
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PDT: 18:00 \u2013 20:00, May 7<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Morgan Bailey
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media@rocketlabusa.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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