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Electron | Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)

Electron launched the Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A) mission for Rocket Lab from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand on Jan 30, 2026 (UTC).

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Launch pad

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A · Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Electron | Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)

Launched Jan 30, 2026 10:21:39 AMSuccess

1 object in orbit now

Flight direction

190° S

measured from the launched orbit · inclination 97.4°

Flight path

First-stage drop zone (rough estimate)

Drawn 400–700 km downrange along the flight direction. Official hazard areas are published as NOTAMs and navigational warnings.

About the mission

The NeonSat-1A, carrying a high-resolution optical camera, is designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government's Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite), in particular technology improvements identified from operations of NeonSat-1 after its launch in April 2024. These technologies will in turn be incorporated into the next 10 NeonSat under construction, as well as providing more site re-visiting capabilities along with NeonSat-1. The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula, lead by the Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea’s leading university dedicated to science and technology. Designed to capture near-real time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula, KAIST’s NEONSAT constellation is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions, including SaTReC, which is leading the program’s system design and engineering. The NEONSAT program is funded by the Korean government’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

Mission description from Launch Library 2.

Objects from this launch still in orbit

Launch time (your time zone)
Fri, Jan 30 · 10:21:39 AM
Status
Success
Launch provider
Rocket Lab
Rocket
Electron
Mission type
Earth Science
Target orbit
SSO
Launch pad
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A · Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand