Rocket Lab to Launch Electron Mission for European Space Agency's Next-Generation Navigation System

Yahoo

3 days ago

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or the "Company"), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has been selected to 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 navigation constellation for Europe, LEO-PNT.
Rocket Lab will launch two "Pathfinder A" spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December 2025.
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 LEO-PNT 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.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: "Launching a European mission on Electron that is integral to the future of Europe's satellite navigation system is both an honor and a testament to our industry-leading launch service. An important constellation like LEO-PNT needs a strong foundation to grow from, and with Electron's track record of precise orbital deployment, we're excited to help secure the future of LEO-PNT for Europe with our launch of these first two satellites in the constellation."
This latest launch contract underscores Electron's international reputation as an industry-leading launcher, and reinforces Rocket Lab's commitment to supporting the growing demand for space access by European constellation operators. Earlier this year Electron completed the deployment of an entire constellation of Internet-of-Things satellites for French satellite operator Kinéis, before launching a global wildfire detection mission for Germany-based customer OroraTech. Missions for other European satellite operators on Electron date back to 2021.
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, the HASTE suborbital launch vehicle for hypersonic tests, a family of flight proven spacecraft, and the larger Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually. Rocket Lab has deployed 200+ payloads from its launch sites in the United States and New Zealand for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab's family of spacecraft have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "strategy," "future," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
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Contacts
Rocket Lab Media Contact Murielle [e-mail]