Photon
Rocket Lab's satellite platform: a ready-made spacecraft body that customers fill with their own instruments, from Earth orbit missions to trips beyond.
Why it matters
Building a spacecraft from scratch is slow and costly. A standard bus lets a customer focus on the instrument or mission and buy the rest off the shelf.
How the technology works
Photon is a family of spacecraft that can be configured for low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit or interplanetary missions. It can also serve as Electron's upper stage during launch and then operate as a spacecraft in orbit.
It relies on Rocket Lab's own solar power, reaction wheels and radios.