Electron – Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab announces five-launch Neutron deal as it continues aiming for late 2026 debut

May 7, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The company pivoted to a Neutron rocket launch debut no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2026 following a first stage tank test failure earlier this year. The first flight of Neutron won’t be reusable, but aims to recover the first stage during its second flight with a landing barge.

Rocket Lab launches 4 novel DiskSat satellites for U.S. Space Force, NASA

December 18, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The STP-S30 mission was moved up five months on the launch manifest for Rocket Lab. This was the 20th launch of an Electron rocket in 2025.

Rocket Lab Electron rocket aborts liftoff at engine ignition

December 15, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The ‘Bridging the Swarm’ mission comes two days after the company launched its ‘RAISE and Shine’ flight for JAXA. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. NZDT / 0055 UTC on Dec. 16 (7:45 p.m. EST on Dec. 15).

Rocket Lab launches 7th StriX Earth observation satellites for Japan-based Synspective

October 14, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The ‘Owl New World’ mission was the 13th orbital Electron launch of 2025. The synthetic aperture radar satellite was deployed into a circular low Earth orbit roughly 50 minutes after liftoff from Mahia, New Zealand.

Rocket Lab launches BlackSky’s next Gen-3 satellite on Electron rocket from New Zealand

June 2, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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

May 10, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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.

Rocket Lab launches 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket

March 26, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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).

Rocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 satellite on 60th Electron flight

February 18, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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).

Rocket Lab launches first Electron rocket of 2025 from New Zealand

February 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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

January 24, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

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.”