On February 18th, Rocket Lab and SpaceX achieved remarkable feats in space. Rocket Lab launched the first Gen-3 satellite for BlackSky's imaging constellation. This satellite, deployed from a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, offers 35-centimeter resolution imagery and short-wave infrared capabilities, penetrating smoke and haze. The launch, dubbed "Fasten Your Space Belts," placed the satellite in a 470-kilometer orbit at a 59-degree inclination.
“This launch represents a major inflection point for our global defense and intelligence customer base as BlackSky introduces very high-resolution Gen-3 capabilities to our high-frequency, low-latency monitoring constellation,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky's chief executive. BlackSky plans further launches throughout the year, building upon their August 2023 contract for five Electron launches. This was Rocket Lab's 60th Electron launch and second of 2024.
Almost simultaneously, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket, deploying 23 Starlink satellites. The significance lay in the Falcon 9 first stage's successful landing on a droneship near the Exuma Islands in The Bahamas—a first for SpaceX in another country's waters. This achievement opens new launch trajectories for Florida-based launches, including the upcoming Fram2 mission, and offers alternative landing sites during challenging North Atlantic weather conditions.
“This is significant for The Bahamas in so many ways,” stated Isaac Chester Cooper, the country's deputy prime minister. He highlighted the potential for aerospace industry involvement, educational opportunities, and tourism boosts. He also addressed prior safety and environmental concerns, assuring that due diligence had been undertaken.
This Falcon 9 launch marked the 21st of the year, with SpaceX aiming for as many as 180 Falcon launches in 2024. Rocket Lab will release its 2024 financial results, potentially including 2025 projections, on February 27th.