Photon
As the global leader in small satellite launch, Rocket Lab has now introduced the next evolution of its mission services, the in-house designed and built Photon satellite platform.
Rocket Lab now delivers an all-inclusive spacecraft build and launch service that enables small satellite customers to focus on delivering their service from orbit and generating revenue, rather than building their own satellite hardware. Our customers simply bring their payload or idea and we do the rest, taking care of the complete satellite design, build and launch as a bundled and streamlined experience.
Photon is an advanced and planned evolution of the Rocket Lab Kick Stage. Operating a high-powered iteration of the flight-proven 3D printed Curie propulsion system, Photon can support missions with up to a five year on-orbit life span. Equipped with an S-band communication system, a high-fidelity attitude control system, and a robust avionics suite, Photon is the complete spacecraft solution for a range of LEO missions, from constellation development, through to technology demonstrations and hosted payloads.
| Performance Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Available payload mass | Up to 170 kg (orbit dependent). From 37 degrees to SSO |
| Available payload volume | Electron fairing envelope |
| Payload power (peak) | 100 W to 1 kW |
| Payload energy/orbit | Up to 300 Whr |
| System voltage | 28 V unregulated; regulated options available |
| Pointing accuracy | 5 deg to 50 arc-sec |
| Slew rate | Up to 5 deg/s |
| Pointing stability | Up to TBS arcsec/sec |
| Orbit knowledge | 5 - 10 m |
| Delta-v capacity | Payload dependent |
| Payload data interfaces | LVDS, ethernet, CAN, RS422/485 |
| Payload data storage | Up to 1 TB |
| Telemetry & command frequencies | S-band (space operations) |
| Telemetry and command data rate | Up to 512 kbps |
| Payload transmitter | Payload dependent; multiple options available |
| Orbit type and lifetime | LEO > 5 years |