Rocket Lab Successfully Launches Two Missions in Less Than 24 Hours

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) achieved a significant milestone by launching two missions in less than 24 hours from different hemispheres. The company's 56th Electron mission, 'Ice AIS Baby,' successfully deployed five satellites for French IoT constellation operator Kinéis to Low Earth Orbit. The launch from New Zealand occurred just 21 hours and 55 minutes after completing a mission from Virginia, setting a new company record for fastest launch turnaround. This mission marked Rocket Lab's 14th launch of 2024 and brought their total satellite deployment count to 203, reinforcing Electron's position as the leading small launch vehicle globally.

Positive

• Successfully completed two launches in less than 24 hours, demonstrating operational efficiency
• Achieved 14th mission of 2024, showing strong execution capability
• Reached milestone of 203 total satellites deployed, strengthening market leadership
• Secured multi-launch contract with Kinéis, indicating strong customer relationships

Negative

• None.

Insights

Space Industry Analyst

This dual-launch achievement showcases Rocket Lab's growing operational efficiency and market dominance in the small satellite launch sector. The 11.7B market cap company has now completed 56 launches and deployed 203 satellites, demonstrating remarkable consistency in execution. The 21-hour-55-minute turnaround between launches from different hemispheres sets a new industry benchmark for rapid launch capabilities.

The successful deployment of Kinéis satellites strengthens Rocket Lab's position in the European market, particularly in the strategic IoT constellation segment. This partnership with a French government-backed entity adds credibility and potential for future European contracts. The company's ability to support both commercial and government missions while maintaining a high launch cadence (14 launches in 2024) indicates strong operational scalability and revenue growth potential.

IoT Technology Analyst

Kinéis's constellation deployment marks a significant advancement in global IoT infrastructure. The French operator's focus on low-power, near-real-time data transmission addresses a critical market need for remote asset monitoring and environmental surveillance. The strategic importance of this deployment is amplified by its backing from CNES and CLS, positioning it as a sovereign European alternative in the IoT space.

The constellation's applications in forest fire detection, water resource management and logistics tracking target high-growth market segments. This successful launch phase strengthens Kinéis's competitive position against existing IoT satellite operators and could accelerate commercial adoption of their services.

Two missions launched in less than 24 hours from two pads in two different hemispheres, setting a new company record for fastest launch turnaround.

MAHIA, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 56^th Electron mission, deploying five satellites to Low Earth Orbit for French Internet-of-Things (IoT) constellation operator Kinéis.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket lifts off the pad at Launch Complex 1 to deploy satellites to orbit for French constellation operator Kinéis. The launch was the company's second in less than 24 hours. Image credit: Rocket Lab and Rory Gannaway

The “Ice AIS Baby” mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 4:55 pm on 25 November NZDT (03:55 UTC), successfully deploying five satellites to a 643 km low Earth orbit. The mission was Rocket Lab’s 14^th mission of 2024 and 56^th launch overall. It also brought the total count of satellites deployed by Rocket Lab to 203, further cementing Electron’s position as the leading small launch vehicle globally. The launch took place just 21 hours and 55 minutes after Rocket Lab completed a successful mission from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, setting a new company record for fastest turnaround between launches.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said: “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 Kinéis 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.”

Kinéis CEO Alexandre Tisserant, says: “The Kinéis 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 Kinéis 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, Kinéis 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.”

The “Ice AIS Baby” mission was the third of five dedicated Electron launches for Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites), an international space-based solutions provider, to improve global IoT connectivity. The Kinéis constellation is designed to make it possible to connect and locate any connected object anywhere in the world, enabling data transmission to users in near-real time, at low bit rates and with very low energy consumption. By enabling internet connection to the Earth’s most remote locations, Kinéis constellation can support forest fire detection, water resource management, infrastructure and energy network monitoring, transport and logistics tracking, and much more.

Launch images: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBSWqi

Launch webcast: www.youtube.com/live/i081vyh3WO0?si=qfXyY5ejvJZwscP0

+ 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 Photon spacecraft platform has 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. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

+ 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, 2023, 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/20241124966388/en/

+ Rocket Lab Media Contact

Morgan Connaughton

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

How many satellites did Rocket Lab (RKLB) deploy in the Ice AIS Baby mission?

Rocket Lab deployed 5 satellites for French IoT constellation operator Kinéis during the Ice AIS Baby mission.

What record did Rocket Lab (RKLB) set with its November 2024 launches?

Rocket Lab set a company record for fastest launch turnaround, completing two launches in just 21 hours and 55 minutes from different hemispheres.

How many total satellites has Rocket Lab (RKLB) deployed to date?

Rocket Lab has deployed 203 satellites in total, maintaining its position as the leading small launch vehicle globally.

What is the purpose of the Kinéis satellites launched by Rocket Lab (RKLB)?

The Kinéis satellites are designed to provide global IoT connectivity, enabling data transmission in near-real time from remote locations for applications like forest fire detection, water resource management, and logistics tracking.