Rocket Lab completes Kinéis satellite constellation launch

Rocket Lab successfully launched the final set of satellites for Kinéis on March 17. This mission confirmed the completion of a constellation designed for Internet-of-Things (IoT) communications. The launch took place at 9:31 p.m. ET from New Zealand. An Electron rocket carried five satellites, inserting them into sun-synchronous orbits about 650 kilometers above the Earth. This was the fifth and last launch under a contract that began in 2021. The launches began in June 2024, with additional missions in September, November, and February. The satellites help track vessels and will start commercial services on June 1, with data delivery expected within 15 minutes. Christophe Vassal, chairman of Kinéis, praised the partnership with Rocket Lab. He noted that the rapid deployment of the satellite constellation marks a new phase for Kinéis, opening up new opportunities. Kinéis anticipates becoming profitable this year, aiming for revenues of 20 million euros by 2026, growing to 100 million euros in the following eight years. This launch was Rocket Lab's second in just over three days. They have conducted four launches in 2025 so far and plan to execute more than 20 missions by year’s end. Peter Beck, Rocket Lab's CEO, highlighted the efficiency of their launches, allowing clients to tailor their orbital needs. Overall, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is gaining recognition for its reliability in deploying satellite constellations, offering more flexibility than traditional rideshare options.