The “Get the Hawk Outta Right here” mission noticed Rocket Launch juggle 4 satellites into orbit round Earth on June 27, marking one more mission on the start-up’s 2025 calendar. The Electron rocket — loaded with three radio-frequency monitoring microsatellites and a know-how demonstrating payload — lifted off from Pad-A in Launch Complicated 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 1:28 p.m. EDT (1728 GMT). The launch is to assist Virginia-based geospatial analytics firm Hawkeye 360 with its pursuit to broaden radio-frequency intelligence gathering.
Rocket Lab Launches Cluster 12 RF Satellites for Hawkeye 360, Eyes Extra Missions in 2025
As per the Rocket Lab’s official mission temporary, the three working satellites are designed to assist Hawkeye 360 triangulate radio alerts internationally. Such spacecraft would fill gaps in protection and supply radio frequency analytics information in close to actual time from areas of strategic curiosity. The fourth payload, Kestrel-0A, is a know-how demonstrator meant to check superior capabilities and future enhancements for the Hawkeye constellation.
Rocket Lab has dedicated to launching a complete of 15 satellites throughout three missions for Hawkeye 360. This mission is themed “Virginia Is For Launch Lovers” and is Electron’s first mission from U.S. soil following the corporate’s first launch from Wallops Island in January 2023. This newest mission signifies the 67th general Electron launch and the ninth of 2025 in an indication of the corporate’s growing launch cadence.
All satellites have been positioned right into a polar low Earth orbit at about 320 miles (520 km) altitude, preferrred for cross-cutting the Earth and thus making certain quick revisits and excessive sign assortment. Electron’s payload fairings additionally did their job, defending the satellites as they lifted off, then releasing them into orbit with pinpoint accuracy.
In its roadmap, Rocket Lab has not less than six extra launches this 12 months, and all eyes are on its upcoming reusable Neutron rocket. The corporate additionally operates a suborbital Electron variant, HASTE, which serves as a testbed for hypersonic and defence applied sciences. The most recent launch additional solidifies Rocket Lab’s place within the small satellite tv for pc deployment market.