Rocket Lab successfully launched its 81st Electron rocket on January 30, 2026, marking its second launch in just eight days. The rocket carried the NEONSAT-1A satellite into space for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). This satellite will be part of a new Earth-observation network by South Korea, designed to monitor natural disasters and national security events along the Korean Peninsula.
The launch took place at Rocket Lab's private site in New Zealand at 2:21 p.m. NZDT (01:21 UTC). NEONSAT-1A was placed into a low Earth orbit, about 540 km above the Earth.
Rocket Lab is a leading space company that offers launch services, spacecraft, and satellite components for commercial, government, and national security missions. Their Electron rocket is the most frequently launched small rocket for orbital missions. The company is also developing the Neutron rocket for medium-sized launches. Rocket Lab’s technology supports over 1,700 missions, including those for GPS, space exploration, and defense. Rocket Lab is publicly listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol RKLB.
Executive Statement
According to Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, two launches in eight days is a strong start to the year that speaks volumes about the demand for Electron and the excellence and dedication of the Rocket Lab team. They cemented our position as the leader in reliable and responsive launch with their record-breaking year of launches in 2025, and these latest launches show they are gearing up for an even busier launch year in 2026.