Rocket Lab’s “Owl for One, One for Owl” dedicated mission for Synspective successfully lifted off on August 2, 2024. At 16:19 UTC the Electron rocket launched from Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), Pad B, on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The second stage separated from the booster two minutes and forty seconds after liftoff. Rocket Lab did not recover the booster for this mission. Almost an hour into the flight, the Kick Stage deployed the payload in orbit at an altitude of 543 km.
The new StriX-5 corresponds to the 5th of 25 Japanese synthetic aperture radar satellites, part of the company’s third generation of satellites, which leverages advanced monitoring and detection technologies to study anomalies and enhance efficiency, security, and environmental management across the planet. Synspective plans to launch another 11 satellites with Rocket Lab by 2027.
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Strix satellites, sonstellation, and mission status
Developed by Tokyo universities and JAXA under the ImPACT program, StriX fosters a sustainable and innovative ecosystem. Its main features include foldable antennas and advanced thermal control, providing large satellite imaging at 1/20th the cost.
For the first time, the StriX-5 will be placed in an inclined orbit rather than a sun-synchronous orbit, allowing it to pass over any given point on the globe at the same local mean solar time and ensuring consistent lighting conditions on the surface.
“We are pleased to be working with Rocket Lab on our fifth satellite launch. The agreement with Rocket Lab for 10 launches between 2025 and 2027 will allow us to accelerate building the SAR satellite constellation.”
— Dr. Motoyuki Arai, Synspective Founder and CEO
In previous years, StriX-α, the first satellite, was deployed in orbit on December 15, 2020. Over a year later, StriX-β was launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. StriX-1, the third in the series and the first with SAR technology followed just 7 months later.
Toshihiro Obata noted the increased frequency of launches for the company, stating: “This launch, just five months after the last, highlights our enhanced production capacity and demonstrates that the constellation maintenance phase is fully underway.”
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On-board SAR instruments and technology
Research and development efforts have focused on creating advanced on-board SAR instrumentation. As already cited by Capella Space, SAR is an active sensing technology where the sensor generates its own energy and measures the amount reflected after interacting with the Earth.
The StriX series’ ability to operate in all weather conditions and at any time of day makes it a versatile tool for remote sensing. Unlike passive remote sensing, SAR does not rely on external light sources and provides superior control over polarization and penetration depth.
Several new sensors and satellites are planned for launch, including the NASA-Indian Space Research Organisation SAR (NISAR) satellite and Japan’s ALOS-4 satellite, both providing L-band SAR data. All will offer free, publicly available data.
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