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Rocket Lab selected by Ball Aerospace to Power NASA’s GLIDE Spacecraft

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Rocket Lab has been selected by Ball Aerospace to manufacture the Solar Array Panel (SAP) for NASA’s GLIDE mission, scheduled for launch in 2025. The SAP will use high-efficiency, radiation-hardened Z4J solar cells produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The GLIDE mission aims to study Earth's atmospheric variability. This contract reinforces Rocket Lab’s position as a key provider in space solar power and highlights its past collaborations with NASA, including missions like the Parker Solar Probe and MMS.

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  • Selected by Ball Aerospace for the Solar Array Panel contract for NASA's GLIDE mission.
  • Reinforces Rocket Lab's position as a leading provider in space solar power technologies.
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Rocket Lab will supply the Solar Array Panel (SAP) for the GLIDE Heliophysics mission.

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, has been selected by Ball Aerospace to manufacture the Solar Array Panel (SAP) to power NASA’s Global Lyman-Alpha Imager of Dynamic Exosphere (GLIDE) mission spacecraft planned to launch in 2025. GLIDE is a heliophysics mission intended to study variability in Earth’s atmosphere.

The SAP will utilize SolAero by Rocket Lab’s high-efficiency, radiation-hardened, quadruple-junction Z4J solar cells, laid down on carbon composite facesheet panels manufactured at the company’s facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The GLIDE spacecraft will launch with another Rocket Lab-powered spacecraft, also built by Ball Aerospace, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1). SWFO-L1 is a heliophysics mission that will collect solar wind data and coronal imagery to meet NOAA’s operational requirements to monitor and forecast solar storm activity.

“Rocket Lab has become the ‘go-to’ provider of space solar power and space systems products throughout the space industry, including for ambitious heliophysics missions like GLIDE,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. “I am grateful to our partners at Ball Aerospace for selecting Rocket Lab and excited to be working with them to support NASA’s Heliophysics missions to deliver advanced science.”

Rocket Lab has provided power to multiple spacecraft as part of NASA’s Heliophysics Division missions including the Parker Solar Probe, the first-ever mission to “touch” the Sun that launched in 2018, and the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, a robotic space mission to study Earth’s magnetosphere that launched in 2015.

+ About Rocket Lab

Founded 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 and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 146 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’s 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 second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

Rocket Lab

Mike Atchue

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab

FAQ

What is Rocket Lab's latest press release about?

Rocket Lab's latest press release announces their selection to produce the Solar Array Panel for NASA's GLIDE mission, launching in 2025.

When will NASA's GLIDE mission be launched?

NASA's GLIDE mission is planned for launch in 2025.

What technology will Rocket Lab use for the Solar Array Panel?

Rocket Lab will use high-efficiency, radiation-hardened quadruple-junction Z4J solar cells for the Solar Array Panel.

Who are Rocket Lab's partners for the GLIDE mission?

Rocket Lab is partnering with Ball Aerospace for the Solar Array Panel of the GLIDE mission.

What previous NASA missions has Rocket Lab supported?

Rocket Lab has previously supported NASA missions including the Parker Solar Probe and the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

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