Rocket Lab completes two launches in under 24 hours
by Clarence Oxford
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 26, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has achieved a significant milestone, completing its 56th Electron mission and deploying five satellites for French Internet-of-Things (IoT) constellation operator Kineis.
The mission, titled “Ice AIS Baby,” launched from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 4:55 pm on November 25 NZDT (03:55 UTC). The satellites were deployed into a 643 km low Earth orbit, marking Rocket Lab’s 14th mission of 2024 and 56th mission overall.
This operation pushed the company’s total deployed satellites to 203, affirming Electron’s status as a leader among small launch vehicles. Notably, this launch occurred just 21 hours and 55 minutes after a successful mission from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, setting a new company record for the shortest turnaround between launches.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck highlighted the achievement: “Two successful launches less than 24 hours apart from pads in different hemispheres. That’s unprecedented capability in the small launch market and one we’re immensely proud to deliver at Rocket Lab. Customers like Kineis are unlocking the potential of space and we’re excited to give them the keys to do so with frequent, dedicated, and reliable small launch opportunities.”
Kineis CEO Alexandre Tisserant praised the mission’s precision: “The Kineis teams have once again demonstrated their technical capabilities as satellite operators by taking control of these five new satellites at a sustained launch rate. This achievement would not have been possible without Rocket Lab’s Electron precision in placing our satellites in their planned positions.
“With 15 Kineis satellites now in orbit, we’re one step closer to the full deployment of our dedicated IoT constellation for transmitting data in near-real time, anywhere on the globe. Congratulations to all our teams, who are doing an incredible job – and, let’s not forget, a European first! We’re equally enthusiastic about our second mission, AIS. In a rapidly consolidating market, Kineis is establishing itself as a sovereign European player, combining technological expertise and strategic independence. With our new AIS offering, we provide maritime players with enhanced visibility over their fleets, while ensuring higher data reliability.”
This was the third of five dedicated Electron launches for Kineis, supported by private and public investments, including backing from the French government’s space agency CNES and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). The Kineis constellation aims to enable global IoT connectivity by offering near-real-time data transmission with low energy consumption. Applications of the constellation include monitoring water resources, forest fire detection, tracking transport and logistics, and managing infrastructure and energy networks in remote locations.
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