Launch details

Electron | Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)

Rocket Lab

Commercial • USA

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Onenui Station

Dec 11 at 01:45pm

Launchpad time•+1200

Dec 11 at 12:45am

Your local time•+0000

Current status

Go for Launch

Electron

Launch vehicle

Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)

Mission

-39.2628

Latitude

177.8645

Longitude

Get notification

24 hours before launch

Get notification

1 hour before launch

Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.

Mission description

The NeonSat-1A, carrying a high-resolution optical camera, is designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government's Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite), in particular technology improvements identified from operations of NeonSat-1 after its launch in April 2024. These technologies will in turn be incorporated into the next 10 NeonSat under construction, as well as providing more site re-visiting capabilities along with NeonSat-1. The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula, lead by the Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea’s leading university dedicated to science and technology. Designed to capture near-real time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula, KAIST’s NEONSAT constellation is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions, including SaTReC, which is leading the program’s system design and engineering. The NEONSAT program is funded by the Korean government’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

— Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)

Image Gallery

Livestream

Launch stream

spacetv.net

Attending a launch in person

Viewing from the launch site is restricted to site personnel. All areas on the peninsula with a view of the launch are typically closed off on launch day. As such there are usually no publically-accessible spots to view launches at Onenui Station.

This may change in the future as Rocket Lab's commercial operations ramp up.

How to get there

The closest airport is Hawke's Bay Airport (aka Napier Airport) in Napier. From the airport take a rental car 3 hours north to Māhia. Alternatively take a bus to Māhia Peninsula and a taxi the rest of the way. Buses are infrequent in this area as it is mostly rural.

Note that Onenui Station is private property and does not allow general access to the public.

Accomodation

Nearby hotels in Māhia Peninsula.

Nearby parking

Parking not available on-site.

Agency details

Rocket Lab is a private aerospace company specializing in small satellite launches. It offers cost-effective, frequent launch services with its Electron rocket. Known for its innovative Rutherford engine and the Photon satellite platform, Rocket Lab supports various commercial and government missions.