{"id":13470,"date":"2020-03-09T17:31:21","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T17:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/09\/nro-to-launch-more-payloads-from-new-zealand-with-rocket-labs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:39:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:39:40","slug":"nro-to-launch-more-payloads-from-new-zealand-with-rocket-labs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/space\/2020\/03\/09\/nro-to-launch-more-payloads-from-new-zealand-with-rocket-labs\/","title":{"rendered":"NRO to launch more payloads from New Zealand with Rocket Labs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following Rocket Labs\u2019 successful launch of the National Reconnaissance Office\u2019s \u201cBirds of a Feather\u201d mission from New Zealand Jan. 31, the agency is partnering with the company again for its second launch of 2020 on March 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch was secured using the agency\u2019s new Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket contract vehicle, an acquisition tool adopted in 2018 to leverage commercial small satellite launch capabilities. The NRO\u2019s Jan. 31 launch with Rocket Labs<\/a> was the first to use the new acquisition method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder this approach, RASR allows the NRO to have a path to greater NRO launch resiliency and responsiveness. By leveraging commercial space launch capabilities where possible, the NRO can put space capabilities on orbit in a cost-effective manner,\u201d the agency stated on Twitter<\/a> March 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\t