"Daughter Of The Stars": IOD-1, IOD-2 – Electron/Kick Stage (fl 85) – Mahia LC-1 (NZ) – 24.03.2026

[zandr]

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2033303355288899902

Rocket Lab   @RocketLab
This is what regular and reliable access to space looks like.
We're running two launch campaigns from LC-1 this weekend with back-to-back launches only days apart.
First up: "Eight Days A Week" for @synspective will add another StriX satellite to their Earth observation constellation. Launch: NET March 20 NZDT.

Next: "The Daughter Of The Stars" for @esa will be the first launch for a new European satnav system called LEO-PNT. Launch: NET March 24 NZDT.
 

[zandr]

https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/daughter-of-the-stars/

Daughter Of The Stars

Mission Name  Daughter Of The Stars
Vehicle              Electron
Launch Date     NET March 24, 2026
Launch Time     TBC
Launch Site       Launch Complex 1
Payload             IOD-1 & IOD-2
Orbit                 510km LEO

Rocket Lab will launch a dedicated Electron mission for the European Space Agency (ESA) for the first time, to deploy the first pair of satellites for a future European navigation mission in low Earth orbit named 'Celeste'.
Rocket Lab will launch two 'Celeste' IOD spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than March 24, 2026.
The spacecraft will be deployed to a 510km low Earth orbit as part of a mission to test a new approach of providing location, direction, and timing services from satellites in low orbit – otherwise called LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing). ESA's Celeste demonstration mission will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe's own global navigation system.

[zandr]

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2034018162870735227

Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
T-6 days to launch for "Daughter Of The Stars" - Electron's 85th launch and first time flying a dedicated mission for the European Space Agency @esa.
Integration and encapsulation is now complete, with ESA's 2x satellites secured to Electron inside its nose cone and ready for launch.