Rocket Lab: We're not Hawking Around

Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand no earlier than 3 AM EDT (8PM local) on Thursday October 22nd, 2026! The payload for this mission is three Hawkeye 360 Satellites that will be used to assist global transportation and Signet capabilities. There is also a chance that there will be a jellyfish, if you are in the local area in New Zealand.... look up!

This launch will be on an expendable RocketLab Electron rocket with nine Rutherford 3D printed engines and will include an Electron second stage with a kick stage to get it to the published 520km orbit with a 97 degree inclination.

With this launch, there will be 42 satellites on orbit in clusters of three using radio frequencies (RF) between the constellation as well as to monitor shipping logistics on land, sea and air. In order to help identify dark ships to help with the accuracy of AIS data to help deter those that want to attempt to have fraudulent location, identification and authentication. There is also the ability to use civilian CIGINT (Signal Intelligence) to help combat misinformation and fraudulent authentication within the maritime shipping industry.