On June 28th, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully deployed a satellite into orbit, marking the company's second launch within 48 hours and fourth this month. The launch, originating from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 3:08 a.m. Eastern, sent the payload into a 650-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
Rocket Lab remained tight-lipped about the payload's specifics, citing confidentiality agreements with an unnamed client. This customer, who signed a contract less than four months prior, has also secured a second launch slated for later this year. Speculation centers around EchoStar, a company currently deploying a Lyra constellation of smallsats for Internet of Things applications; the mission patch's satellite illustration bears resemblance to those of Lyra satellites.
This launch follows another Electron mission on June 26th, deploying four HawkEye 360 satellites, making it the shortest turnaround between launches at Launch Complex 1. “The future of space is built on proven performance, and Electron continues to deliver against a stacked launch manifest this year,” stated Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s chief executive, highlighting the company’s impressive launch record. June alone witnessed three other Electron launches: a BlackSky imaging satellite on June 2nd, and a radar imaging satellite for iQPS on June 11th. With 10 launches already completed in 2024, Rocket Lab projects over 20 launches for 2025.