Rocket Lab’s Electron lifted off from Launch Complex 1 B on the Māhia Peninsula, carrying three TROPICS‑2B CubeSats that will track tropical storms in near‑real time. The “We’re Gonna Need a Smaller Boat” mission reached a 550 km orbit inclined 30 degrees, completing deployment 35 minutes after launch.
The TROPICS constellation will shrink revisit times for cyclone monitoring from six hours to less than one, giving forecasters a sharper picture of storm intensification. Each 12‑pound satellite hosts a miniaturized microwave radiometer, gathering temperature and humidity profiles through thick cloud decks.
Mission managers highlighted the rapid cadence: all six operational TROPICS craft have now reached orbit within five weeks, meeting NASA’s deadline ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season. Rocket Lab’s Photon kick stage executed a clean deorbit burn to mitigate space‑debris risks.