"Insight at Speed is a Friend Indeed": BlackSky Gen-3 – Electron/Kick Stage (fl 83) – Mahia LC-1A (NZ) – 05.03.2026 23:53 UTC

[zandr]

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2029281388692754597

Lukas C. H.  @GewoonLukas_
Additional hazard area's have appeared, and they indicate launch is now scheduled for NET March 5th (tomorrow) between 22:15 and 01:50 UTC. No word from Rocket Lab yet. With their launch cadence increasing, these very late announcements are occuring more often.

Lukas C. H.  @GewoonLukas_  ·  Feb 28
After a few delays and holds, Rocket Lab successfully launched Hypersonix' DART-AE last night aboard HASTE! Rocket Lab's next launch is scheduled for NET March 4th per hazard area's. The trajectory matches with those flown on launches for Synspective, iQPS, and BlackSky.

[zandr]

https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/2029607822673985838

Cosmic Penguin  @Cosmic_Penguin
Surprise @RocketLab
 Electron launch from NZ coming up *TODAY, 5.5 hours from now*! Well not quite a surprise since there were NOTAMs for it since several days ago + hinted during last launch's stream, but till now it's still not officially announced.
Probably for @BlackSky_Inc?

Объявили.
Время 22:45 UTC

[zandr]

На сайте пока без конкретики (и давно висит)
Next Launch
https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/synspective/

Mission Name   Synspective
Vehicle     Electron
Launch Date  2026
Launch Time  TBD
Launch Site  Launch Complex 1
Overview    Next dedicated launch of 10x upcoming missions for Synspective
Payload     StriX satellite
Orbit       TBD
Inclination TBD

[zandr]

https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/2029609237916127372

Cosmic Penguin  @Cosmic_Penguin
The NOTAMs are pointing towards a medium-inclination orbit launch; unfortunately this is shared by several of Rocket Lab's major rocket ride customers so it was not enough to pinpoint what this is for. The mission name is a good hint but...

[zandr]

... и только что
https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2029631123769413832

Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Another launch, another hemisphere 
Just days after our most recent mission from Virginia, Electron is on the pad at LC-1 ready for launch today for a confidential commercial customer.
'Insight at Speed is a Friend Indeed' is scheduled for liftoff NET:
12:53 pm NZDT, March 6
23:53 UTC, March 5
6:53 pm ET, March 5
3:53 pm PT, March 5
 

[zandr]

Next Launch

сайт Rocket Lab пока не обновлён.

[zandr]

... а трансляцию уже выложили

Код Выделить Развернуть

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQhLu0hOB14

Rocket Lab - 'Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed' Launch
  Rocket Lab

начало 02:35 мск.

[zandr]

https://x.com/Dillonshrop06/status/2029703690848747551

Dillon  @Dillonshrop06
Hazard Map for Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed
https://bit.ly/4cNReRI
NET March 06 2353 UTC
 

[zandr]

https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/insight-at-speed-is-a-friend-indeed/

Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed

Mission NameInsight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed
Vehicle       Electron
Launch Date   6 March 2026
Launch Time   12:53 p.m. NZDT
Launch Site   Launch Complex 1
Overview      A dedicated Electron launch for a confidential commercial customer.
Payload       1x Earth Observation satellite
Orbit         470 km
Inclination   42 degrees

"Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed" was a dedicated Electron mission to deploy a single commercial satellite to a 470 km low Earth orbit. The satellite was deployed from a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband, a separation system for satellites with 100% mission success that showcases the streamlined service Rocket Lab delivers customers from across its vertically-integrated launch and space systems products.  

[zandr]

Пуск!
Вы не можете просматривать это вложение.

[zandr]

Ранее
https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2029666031355249132

Rocket Lab   @RocketLab
Mission details for today's launch:
Mission Name: 'Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed'
 Payload: 1x Earth Observation satellite
 Orbit: 470km LEO
 Launch Site: LC-1, Pad A
4th launch of 2026

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2029687243766665235

Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Just over 1 hour to launch. LOX loading is underway on Electron, the weather is clear, and the range at LC-1 is ready.
Liftoff set for:
 12:53 pm NZDT
 23:53 UTC
 6:53 pm/3:53 pm ET/PT

[zandr]

Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Nominal SECO and transfer orbit achieved. Electron is set to complete this mission and deploy the satellite within the hour.
·
MISSION SUCCESS! Payload deployment is confirmed for "Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed", successfully capping off our 83rd mission

Миссия успешна.

[Astro Cat]

Показали хорошо. С рокеткамами. Прям как Маск.

[zandr]

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2029735896954851388

Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Blue skies and mission success for our 83rd Electron launch.
 

[zandr]

Jonathan McDowell  @planet4589
LAUNCH of Rocket Lab Electron from Mahia at 2353 UTC Mar 5 carrying a BlackSky Global Gen3 imaging satellite

[zandr]

Каталогизированы два объекта
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements

2026-043A    68098   2026-043A         94.03   42.02   476   467   0.0007007   
2026-043B    68099   ELECTRON R/B   91.06   42.02   473   180   0.0218654   

Где-то KickStage долен ещё быть.

[zandr]

... нашли; понизил орбиту

2026-043A    68098   GLOBAL-34    94.03   42.02   476   467   0.0007001
2026-043B    68099   ELECTRON R/B   90.88   42.02   456   179   0.0207294
2026-043C    68100   ELECTRON KICK STAGE R/B   90.89   42.12   446   191   0.0190793

и поименовали.

[zandr]

Примечательно, что в трёх прошлогодних запусках Gen-3 (2025-033, 2025-118 и 2025-267) разгонник KickStage не понижал орбиту, оставался на орбите выведения спутника.
В этом запуске, при той же высоте выведения, и вроде бы, той же ПН, перигей существенно понижен.

[zandr]

https://x.com/BlackSky_Inc/status/2031355851345134046

BlackSky  @BlackSky_Inc
First light from our fourth Gen-3 satellite.
Captured just hours after launch on March 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM, this image shows an aircraft departing the runway at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile.
This milestone adds critical on-orbit capacity to our growing Gen-3 constellation and reflects BlackSky's ability to move from launch to operational imagery in hours, not weeks.
Read more to learn how $BKSY continues to meet global demand for responsive tactical ISR and deliver mission-ready intelligence at speed. https://blacksky.com/press-releases/blacksky-fourth-gen-3-satellite-achieves-on-orbit-first-light-operations-within-hours/

"Первый свет".