News Archive
Browse every article published on Spaceflight Now, from launch reports and mission previews to spacecraft development coverage. Use the filters to narrow by topic or search by keyword.
Matching Articles
142 articles
VideoRocket Lab launches BlackSky’s next Gen-3 satellite on Electron rocket from New Zealand
The mission will be Rocket Lab’s seventh Electron rocket launch of the year and its second in 2025 in support of BlackSky. Teams are targeting liftoff from Mahia, New Zealand at 11:57 a.m. NZT on June 3 (7:57 p.m. EDT, 2357 UTC on June 2).

Rocket Lab to debut point-to-point cargo transportation capability on 2026 Air Force mission
Rocket Lab is working towards the debut of its medium-lift reusable Neutron rocket in the second half of 2025. The company didn’t announce whether the rocket used on this mission would carry a payload onboard.
VideoRocket Lab launches 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket
These first eight satellites are part of OroraTech’s plan to deploy up to 100 satellites by 2028. Liftoff from Mahia, New Zealand happened at 4:30 a.m. NZT on March 27 (11:30 a.m. EDT, 1530 UTC on March 26).
VideoRocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 satellite on 60th Electron flight
The mission, dubbed ‘Fasten Your Space Belts,’ was Rocket Lab’s second launch of the year and its ninth launch supporting BlackSky as a customer. Liftoff from New Zealand happened at 12:17 p.m. NZDT on Feb. 19 (6:17 p.m. EST, 2317 UCT on Feb. 18).
VideoRocket Lab launches first Electron rocket of 2025 from New Zealand
The mission was the company’s 59th Electron rocket launch to date. Liftoff of the ‘IoT 4 You and Me’ mission happened at 9:43 a.m. NZDT on Feb. 9 (3:43 p.m. EST, 2043 UTC on Feb. 8).

Rocket Lab, Orora Technologies contract for “responsive launch” ahead of main 2025 wildfire season
The eight satellites will also fulfill a concept study contract awarded to OroraTech and Spire Global by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in October 2024. A specific launch date hasn't been announced, but Rocket Lab said the Electron rocket launch would happen in “just a few weeks.”
VideoRocket Lab launches 5 Internet of Things satellites following mid-week scrub
The mission will be the 53rd launch of an Electron rocket to date. Liftoff from Launch Complex 1 Pad A happened on Sept. 21 at 11:01 a.m. NZST (Sept. 20 at 7:01 p.m. EDT, 2301 UTC).

Rocket Lab’s Mars-bound twin satellites – Blue and Gold – hit the road ahead of Blue Origin launch
The twin spacecraft, named Blue and Gold, left Rocket Lab’s Long Beach facilities on Thursday to begin the trip to Florida. The EscaPADE mission will launch aboard Blue Origin’s first New Glenn rocket.
VideoRocket Lab launches 5th mission for Japanese Earth observation company, Synspective
The Electron rocket carried a StriX satellite to low Earth orbit as part of Synspective’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. Liftoff happened on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 4:39 a.m. NZT (Friday, Aug. 2, at 12:39 p.m. EDT, 1639 UTC).
VideoRocket Lab successfully launches its 50th Electron rocket
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket made history by reaching its 50th launch faster than any other commercially developed orbital launch vehicle. Liftoff from New Zealand took place at 6:13 a.m. NZST on Friday, June 21 (2:13 p.m. EDT, 1813 UTC on Thursday, June 20).