Rocket Lab is about to conduct the first of two launches for NASA’s TROPICS mission, short for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats.
Related Videos Rocket Lab will live stream the launch — check below for details on how you can watch it. Related The constellation is part of NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder Program and the four CubeSats that will be launched to an orbit of 342 miles . Rocket Lab is developing a system for first-stage booster recovery that involves using a helicopter and a grappling hook to pluck the booster from the sky as it falls back to Earth shortly after launch. However, in the two TROPICS missions, Rocket Lab said it will not attempt to recover the first stage.