Rocket Lab is preparing to launch four private satellites and reclaim the returning booster early on Jan. 28 The Electron rocket is scheduled to take off from New Zealand during a 45-minute window opening at 1:15 a.m. EST (0615 GMT; 7:15 p.m. local New Zealand time). The “Four of a Kind” mission will deliver four space situational awareness (SSA) satellites to low Earth orbit for Montreal company NorthStar Earth & Space. These satellites—built and operated by Spire Global—will monitor all near-Earth orbits from space, providing enhanced SSA services to the satellite community. Rocket Lab aims to deploy the satellites into a circular orbit 330 miles above Earth and recover the first stage of the Electron back to Earth under parachutes for a soft Pacific Ocean splashdown. The company’s efforts to make the Electron’s first stage reusable have been ongoing, with positive progress noted in previous missions. This upcoming launch will mark Rocket Lab’s first in 2024 and its 43rd Electron mission overall. The previous Electron launch, named “The Moon God Awakens,” in December was a success.
