Electron : NeonSat-1A : LC-1A : 30 January 2026 (01:21 UTC)

[GewoonLukas_]

South Korea follows Nuri success with packed satellite launch schedule
2025.12.01

[...]

On December 10 (local time), a 'verification satellite' designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government's microsatellite constellation is confirmed to launch from Rocket Lab's launch site on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. Satrec Initiative, the Satellite Technology Research Center at KAIST, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) participated in the production of the microsatellite.

The microsatellite constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula. The first prototype satellite was launched into space in April of last year aboard an 'Electron' rocket from the American launch company Rocket Lab. Satellites 2 through 6 and 7 through 11 are scheduled to be launched via the Nuri rocket next year and the year after, respectively.

According to an announcement from the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) in September, the verification satellite is intended to validate the microsatellite constellation system's technology, identified through the first satellite, in orbit. The verification satellite will be placed in an afternoon orbit, which enhances observation efficiency by imaging the ground at a consistent time each afternoon. It will precisely verify on-orbit thrust performance, satellite altitude and spacing maintenance capabilities, and image quality.

[...]

https://twitter.com/with_KASA/status/1998321724132086028

[LIVE Preview] December 11 at 9:35 AM 
Korea AeroSpace Administration YouTube Channel 
Live Broadcast of the Launch of the First Mass-Produced Micro Swarm Satellite Verifier 🛰️ 

Catch the launch moment of the micro swarm satellite, a practical Earth observation satellite, 
on the Korea AeroSpace Administration YouTube Channel! 

(Translated from Korean)

https://www.youtube.com/live/6pVEWdZyCvY

So that's what these notices were for:

Some marine navigation warnings have popped up for another Electron SSO launch from New Zealand right on the heels of the RAISE-4 launch, NET December 9/10 22:45-02:00 UTC.

041808Z DEC 25
HYDROPAC 3215/25(76).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 2245Z TO 0200Z
DAILY 09 DEC THRU 24 DEC:
A. ROCKET LAUNCHING IN AREA BOUND BY
39-12.00S 177-49.00E, 39-12.00S 177-57.00E,
39-15.00S 178-06.00E, 39-54.00S 177-48.00E,
39-54.00S 177-36.00E, 39-18.00S 177-42.00E.
B. SPACE DEBRIS IN AREA BOUND BY
43-24.00S 175-42.00E, 43-36.00S 177-30.00E,
47-42.00S 176-30.00E, 47-24.00S 174-30.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 240300Z DEC 25.

041818Z DEC 25
HYDROPAC 3216/25(76).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2245Z TO 0200Z DAILY 09 THRU 24 DEC
IN AREA BOUND BY
53-18.00S 171-48.00E, 53-36.00S 174-06.00E,
58-48.00S 172-36.00E, 58-30.00S 169-54.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 240300Z DEC 25.

With the delays to "RAISE And Shine", it's unclear if this launch will now occur before or after "RAISE And Shine".

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently Yonhap News actually reported on the satellite and the launch deal with Rocket Lab as early as mid September, but we all have missed it: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250918087300017

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NOTAMs are now up:

B9229/25 NOTAMN
Q) NZZC/QRDCA/IV/BO /W /000/999/3924S17755E030
A) NZZC B) 2512110015 C) 2512110205
E) TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD097 (MAHIA EAST CAPE) IS PRESCRIBED AS
FLW: EXCLUDING THAT AREA CO-INCIDENT WITH NZR401, ALL THAT AIRSPACE
BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING:
38 59 00.20 S 178 13 58.80 E
39 08 03.80 S 178 16 31.40 E
39 24 00.00 S 178 15 00.00 E
39 48 00.00 S 178 00.00.00 E
39 48 00.00 S 177 36 00.00 E
39 20 17.20 S 177 36 32.80 E
39 06 00.00 S 177 36 32,80 E
39 06 00.00 S 177 54 00.00 E
38 59 00.20 S 178 13 58.80 E
ACTIVITY: ROCKET LAUNCH
USING AGENCY: ROCKET LAB LIMITED,
RANGE CONTROL CENTRE, TEL +64 28 255 11638 PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO
CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A DELEGATED AUTHORITY ISSUED BY
THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION
F) SFC G) UNL

 B9230/25 NOTAMN
Q) NZZO/QRDCA/IV/BO /W /000/999/4533S17605E133
A) NZZO B) 2512110015 C) 2512110205
E) TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD098 (WEST CHATHAM ISLANDS) IS PRESCRIBED AS
FLW: ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING:
43 36 00.00 S 177 30 00.00 E
47 42 00.00 S 176 30 00.00 E
47 24 00.00 S 174 30 00.00 E
43 24 00.00 S 175 42 00.00 E
43 36 00.00 S 177 30 00.00 E
ACTIVITY: ROCKET DEBRIS RETURN
USING AGENCY: ROCKET LAB LIMITED, RANGE CONTROL CENTRE, TEL +64 28
255 11638 PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A
DELEGATED AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION
F) SFC G) UNL


B9231/25 NOTAMN
Q) NZZO/QRDCA/IV/BO /W /000/999/5603S17210E169
A) NZZO B) 2512110015 C) 2512110205
E) TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD099 (SOUTHEAST CAMPBELL ISLAND) IS
PRESCRIBED
AS FLW:
ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING:
53 36 00.00 S 174 06 00.00 E
58 48 00.00 S 172 36 00.00 E
58 30 00.00 S 169 54 00.00 E
53 18 00.00 S 171 48 00.00 E
53 36 00.00 S 174 06 00.00 E
ACTIVITY: ROCKET DEBRIS RETURN
USING AGENCY: ROCKET LAB LIMITED, RANGE CONTROL CENTRE, TEL +64 28
255 11638 PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A
DELEGATED AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION
F) SFC G) UNL

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1998551497748132213

Launch update: Our next Electron launch from LC-1 will be a dedicated mission for @kaistpr. The launch window for ‘Bridging The Swarm’ will open Thursday Dec 11 NZDT.

🚀 1:45pm, Dec 11 NZDT
🚀 00:45, Dec 11 UTC
🚀 9:45am, Dec 11 KST
🚀 7:45pm, Dec 10 ET
🚀 4:45pm, Dec 10 PT

Find out more: https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/next-mission/

[catdlr]

Rocket Lab - 'Bridging The Swarm' Launch

Broadcast starts 7:30 PM ET, December 10, 2025

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1998840338547618258

It’s launch day! Our next Electron mission from LC-1 is “Bridging The Swarm” for @kaistpr, scheduled for liftoff today from 1:55 pm NZDT/00:55 UTC.

🚀9:55 am KST
🚀7:55 pm EST
🚀4:55 pm PST
🚀00:55 UTC
🚀1:55 pm NZDT

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1998861446755831991

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1998877048446882103

Electron is vertical on the pad at LC-1 and propellant loading has begun. T-4 hours to launch for @kaistpr - our 19th launch of the year and 77th Electron mission overall.

Today's mission will be Electron's 19th this year, surpassing last year's record of 16 launches. Let's get into the details:

⏰Launching: NET 1:55 pm NZDT
🚀Launch site: LC-1 Pad A
🌎Mission: Earth-observation
🛰️Payload: NEONSAT-1A
🎯Orbit: 540km LEO

Join the action with our live broadcast from T-20 mins: bit.ly/4rGYWSG

[catdlr]

It's time for the RocketLab broadcast.  This will be a full-duration mission to deployment.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ntz0PywY25c

[catdlr]

T-16 min

[catdlr]

T-12 min Polling has started.

[catdlr]

LD has giving Go-For Launch

[catdlr]

Some marine layer in the distance, but clear at the launch pad.  T-10 min

[catdlr]

Launch Control has issued a HOLD at 5:43 in the count. - awaiting word for the reason

[catdlr]

The launch would have occurred right now - if not, the HOLD occurred.

Appears LD is going through the HOLD checklist before the determination of the cause of the HOLD.

[catdlr]

There is a 30-minute window to launch the vehicle.

[catdlr]

I think they are close to running out of time to both reset the launch count and launch in the window.  It will be tight. Let's keep our ears open.

[catdlr]

Clock has been reset to 22:30 and counting, and will be launched at the end of the window.  8:21 PM ET

[catdlr]

LD will redo the Go-NO-go launch polling at T-12 min.

[catdlr]

T-20 min

[catdlr]

T-15 min  LD will conduct the Go/No-Go Polling at T-12 min.