Watch the Launch

Watch the Launch

Additional Media

ESA’s Celeste mission launch 1

On 25 March, the first two satellites of the Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand. Celeste will play a pioneering role in elevating the future of Europe’s satellite navigation capabilities. As Europe’s first initiative …

Daughter Of The Stars (LEO-PNT Pathfinder A)

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Navigation

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

The European Space Agency (ESA)'s LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing) demonstrator mission will feature a 10-satellite constellation demonstration mission that 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. This launch will lift 2 “Pathfinder A” satellites built by Thales Alenia Space and GMV to a 510 km altitude Low Earth Orbit.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • March 25, 2026, 1:43 a.m.

New T-0.


Nosu • March 25, 2026, 8:16 a.m.

Standing down due to weather conditions, new launch date TBD


Cosmic_Penguin • Jan. 15, 2026, 9:47 p.m.

Added mission name.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 26, 2026, 12:45 p.m.

NET March 28 per new NOTAMs, to be confirmed.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 27, 2026, 3:12 p.m.

GO for launch on March 28.


Electron

Family:
Configuration:

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.

See Details
Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    2
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    18.0 m
  • Diameter
    1.2 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    1.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    13.0 T
  • Thrust
    162.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Electron
  • Family
    ―
  • Variant
    ―
  • Alias
    ―
  • Full Name
    Electron
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $6000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    300.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    ―
  • Direct Geostationary
    ―
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    225.0 kg

Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab

(RL)

CEO: Peter Beck Founded: 2006 Successes: 93 Failures: 4 Pending: 41

Agency Type:

Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.

INFO WIKI
SpaceNews

Rocket Lab to launch European navigation tech demo satellites

Rocket Lab will launch a pair of European navigation technology demonstration satellites, as Europe again is forced to look outside the continent for launch services. The post Rocket Lab to launch European navigation tech demo satellites …

ESA

Galileo ‘daughter mission’ name revealed: Celeste

Following the announcement of the upcoming launch of LEO-PNT’s first satellites, ESA has now unveiled the name of the mission. Celeste, as it has been officially designated, will test the potential of a new, low Earth orbit layer of satell…

ESA

CELESTE pre-launch media briefing

Watch the replay of the CELESTE pre-launch media briefing. The briefing covered the mission details of the ahead of the inaugural launch of ESA’s Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration constellation. The first two satellites are scheduled …

ESA

Watch live: First Celeste launch

On 25 March, the first two satellites of the Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand.

NASASpaceflight

Launch Preview: Russia to debut Soyuz-5; Falcon 9 and Atlas V to launch internet satellites

The United States, Russia, China, New Zealand, and Norway are all set to host launches… The post Launch Preview: Russia to debut Soyuz-5; Falcon 9 and Atlas V to launch internet satellites appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A


Starship
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Starlink Group 31-1 (Starship Flight 14)
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Falcon 9
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Electron
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Long March 6A
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Glonass-K1 No. 20 (?)
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Note: Satellite serial number and Cosmos designation not confirmed. Glonass-K are the third generation of satellite design for GLONASS satellite n…