Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch for Constellation Operator Kinéis

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has scheduled its first mission of 2025, the 'IOT 4 You and Me' launch, for February 4th NZDT from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. This mission marks the fourth of five dedicated Electron launches for French IoT constellation operator Kinéis under a multi-launch contract to deploy 25 IoT satellites.

The company successfully completed three previous launches for Kinéis in June, September, and November 2024, deploying 15 satellites. This upcoming launch will be Rocket Lab's 59th Electron mission overall. The company aims to exceed its 2024 record of 16 launches across Electron and HASTE platforms in 2025.

Positive

• Secured multi-launch contract for 5 dedicated launches with Kinéis
• Successfully completed first 3 launches of the contract in 2024
• Planning to exceed 2024's record of 16 launches in 2025

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

This mission announcement underscores Rocket Lab's growing dominance in the small satellite launch market. The multi-launch contract with Kinéis, now in its fourth of five planned launches, exemplifies the company's successful execution of complex constellation deployment contracts - a important capability as the IoT satellite market continues its rapid expansion.

From a business perspective, multi-launch contracts like this one are particularly valuable as they provide predictable revenue streams and operational efficiency. The successful execution of three previous launches in 2024 demonstrates Rocket Lab's operational reliability, a critical factor for winning future constellation deployment contracts in the highly competitive launch services market.

After achieving 16 launches in 2024, Rocket Lab's indication that they expect to exceed this number in 2025 signals continued growth in launch cadence, which typically correlates with improved margins through economies of scale. The company's ability to maintain a high launch frequency while serving both commercial and government customers positions them well in the small satellite launch market, where rapid and reliable access to space is increasingly vital.

The broader context is particularly relevant: as the IoT satellite market is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, Rocket Lab's demonstrated expertise in constellation deployment could lead to additional multi-launch contracts. Their diversified customer base across commercial and government sectors, combined with operations from multiple launch sites, provides both revenue stability and growth potential.

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s fourth in a series of five dedicated Electron launches for the French Internet-of-Things constellation operator

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch provider and space systems company, today announced it has scheduled the next Electron launch for Kinéis, a global Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity provider.

Rocket Lab's most recent Electron launch for Kineis lifting off from Launch Complex 1 in November 2024. (Photo: Business Wire)

The “IOT 4 You and Me” mission is scheduled to launch during window that opens on February 4th NZDT. Within the multi-day window, there is an instantaneous launch opportunity daily at 09:43 am NZDT (20:43 UTC). The launch will take place from Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site, Launch Complex 1, in New Zealand. The mission is the fourth of five dedicated Electron launches booked by Kinéis in a multi-launch contract that will see Rocket Lab deploy an entire constellation of 25 IoT satellites. The first three missions were successfully launched by Electron in June, September and November 2024.

“IOT 4 You and Me” is Rocket Lab’s first scheduled launch of 2025, with the company expecting this year to exceed its record-breaking launch cadence of 16 launches across Electron and HASTE achieved in 2024.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says: “Last year we launched dedicated three missions for Kinéis, deploying 15 satellites to precise and tailored orbits to get the constellation up and running rapidly. We’re excited to continue the relationship in 2025 with our first mission off the pad for the year.”

A live broadcast will be available on launch day from around T-20 minutes at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream

“IOT 4 You and Me” will be Rocket Lab’s first mission of 2025 and the Company’s 59^th Electron launch overall. Rocket Lab’s 2025 launch manifest includes Electron missions for commercial and government customers, as well as HASTE missions from Launch Complex 2. Launch windows for each will be announced in due course.

+ Images & Video Content www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlab

About Rocket Lab:

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, a family of flight proven spacecraft, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 200 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s family of spacecraft have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia.

About Kinéis:

Created in 2018, Kinéis is a satellite operator and global connectivity provider. It inherited 40 years of expertise in the Argos system, founded by CNES (French space agency) and historically operated by CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). Its mission is to develop reliable technology that provides easy access to useful satellite data. To make life easier for professionals and individuals and encourage them to use its products and services, Kinéis locates and connects objects wherever they are on the planet. Thanks to its technological innovation capabilities, Kinéis forges links between New Space and IoT and connects hundreds of customers with satellite IoT. In Q2 2021, Kinéis won two projects funded by the European program Eurostars: Forestens (forest fire prevention) and Catset (a decision support toolset eartag for extensive cattle farming).

Thanks to its constellation of 25 nanosatellites, Kinéis can connect any object from anywhere in the world and transmit useful data from these objects to users in near real time. This data is a decision-making tool that can be used to optimize activities while reducing risks, thanks to three essential functions: tracking, monitoring and alerting.

Kinéis' space connectivity applications are used in a number of fields that represent major challenges for mankind, its activities and its environment today: natural risk prevention (detection of forest fires, floods, pollution, etc.), monitoring of infrastructures and energy networks (detection of anomalies, predictive maintenance, etc.), transport and logistics monitoring, agriculture, traceability of wild and farmed animals, and monitoring of commercial and leisure maritime activities.

The Kinéis constellation also integrates the AIS (Automatic Identification System), a maritime automatic identification system for ships operating on VHF (Very High Frequency) radio frequencies, which enables ships and surveillance systems to know the identity, position, direction and status of ships at sea.

Kinéis' satellite-based AIS (S-AIS) is a high-performance system (requiring no ground infrastructure) that complements terrestrial AIS, enabling ships to be monitored worldwide, even in international waters not accessible by terrestrial AIS.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250121589247/en/

+ Rocket Lab Media Contact

Morgan Connaughton

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

When is Rocket Lab's (RKLB) first launch of 2025 scheduled?

Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025 is scheduled for February 4th NZDT, with daily launch opportunities at 09:43 am NZDT.

How many satellites will RKLB deploy for Kinéis in total?

Rocket Lab will deploy a total constellation of 25 IoT satellites for Kinéis across five dedicated launches.

How many Kinéis launches has RKLB completed so far?

Rocket Lab has completed three launches for Kinéis in June, September, and November 2024, deploying 15 satellites.

How many total Electron launches has RKLB completed?

With the upcoming Kinéis mission being the 59th, Rocket Lab has completed 58 Electron launches to date.

How many launches did RKLB complete in 2024?

Rocket Lab achieved a record-breaking launch cadence of 16 launches across Electron and HASTE platforms in 2024.