NASA’s recently established hurricane-tracking constellation has successfully launched its first two satellites into space.

The pioneering duo, known as cubesats, are part of NASA’s TROPICS network and were sent into orbit via a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, Space reported.

The launch took place at 1 p.m. local New Zealand time from Rocket Lab’s facility in New Zealand.

Approximately 33 minutes after liftoff, the Electron released the compact TROPICS cubesats into a low Earth orbit situated around 340 miles (550 kilometers) above the planet’s surface.

NASA’s TROPICS constellation, which stands for “Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats,” is set to include a total of four cubesats positioned in a low Earth orbit.

If everything proceeds as intended, Rocket Lab is scheduled to deploy the remaining two satellites approximately two weeks from now, ensuring the completion of the TROPICS constellation.

Written by staff