Rocket Lab USA Inc. has been selected by NASA to launch the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with Constellation of Smallsats, or Tropics, mission to study tropical storms.

The Long Beach-based company was chosen to launch the mission as part of NASA’s Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare launch services contract, according to a release from Rocket Lab.

The value of the contract was not disclosed.
The company will launch four small satellites in two low-Earth orbital planes within a 60-day period starting no earlier than May 1.

The two launches, using Electron rockets from Rocket Lab, will take place from the company’s Launch Complex 2 within the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The Tropics satellite constellation targets the formation and evolution of cyclones, including hurricanes, the Rocket Lab release said.

Tropics will provide rapidly updating observations of storm intensity, as well as the horizontal and vertical structures of temperature and humidity within the storms and in their surrounding environment. The data will help scientists better understand the processes that effect these high-impact storms, ultimately leading to improved modeling and prediction, the release said.

Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and chief executive, said that this year the world has witnessed the devastating effects of hurricanes and tropical storms on lives and livelihoods, underscoring the importance of improved climate data from space to enable scientists and researchers to accurately predict storm strength and give people time to evacuate and make plans.

“The Tropics satellites need a responsive and reliable path to orbit to equip people with near real-time, actionable weather data and Rocket Lab is honored to provide a dependable launch solution as we approach the 2023 hurricane season,” Beck said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with the team at NASA to deliver mission success once again.”