NASA TROPICS Team Now Provisioning For Comms Uplinks And Downlinks...

All is proceeding as expected, because it takes a bit to make the "handshakes" work, whilst whizzing by ground stations, from orbit. The "Down Under" saga will continue, with another launch of the other pair of related "Cubesats" -- also from Māhia, New Zealand -- in about two weeks' time.

This is an amazing moment in human history, to be alive to witness it:

. . .The team is working toward signal acquisition from the pair of TROPICS CubeSats. NASA will continue to assess data from periodic pass opportunities. It is not unexpected for CubeSats to take some time to establish communications. We will provide confirmation when signal is acquired.

The second pair of TROPICS CubeSats is planned to launch aboard another Rocket Lab Electron rocket, named Coming To A Storm Near You, in about two weeks from Launch Complex 1 at Māhia, New Zealand. . . .

Onward, with a huge grin. . . .

नमस्ते