Rocket Lab is set to launch five “Internet of Things” (IoT) satellites for the French company Kinéis on Saturday, February 8, 2025, after a delay to ensure safe orbital insertion. The mission, named “IOT 4 You and Me,” will lift off aboard a 59-foot-tall (18-meter) Electron rocket from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand launch site at 3:43 p.m. EST (2043 GMT, 9:43 a.m. local New Zealand time on Feb. 9).
Why Was the Launch Delayed?
The original launch date was February 3, but Rocket Lab stood down from that attempt due to orbital traffic concerns. The company wanted to ensure the mission posed no risk of space collisions, stating that it needed to confirm that it was “safe to merge onto the space highway.”
How to Watch the Launch
Rocket Lab will provide a live webcast of the launch, starting about 30 minutes before liftoff, on its official website. If available, Space.com will also carry the feed.
About the ‘IOT 4 You and Me’ Mission
The mission is part of Rocket Lab’s fourth launch out of a planned five-mission series to build out Kinéis’ 25-nanosatellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Once the full constellation is operational, Kinéis will be able to:
📡 Connect devices worldwide, allowing near real-time data transmission.
📡 Support industries like agriculture, maritime, and environmental monitoring by providing tracking, monitoring, and alerting services.
📡 Enhance decision-making and risk reduction with its IoT network capabilities.
Mission Profile: Deployment Timeline
🚀 Liftoff from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site
🚀 Electron’s first and second stages separate
🚀 Kick stage ignites for final orbital adjustments
🛰 Deployment of five Kinéis satellites into a 401-mile-high (646 km) circular orbit 66.5 minutes after launch
Rocket Lab’s First Launch of 2025
This launch will mark Rocket Lab’s first mission of 2025. In 2024, the company successfully conducted 16 missions, including:
🔹 14 orbital launches with Electron
🔹 2 suborbital missions with HASTE, a modified Electron used for hypersonic technology testing
Looking Ahead
With its growing launch cadence and commercial partnerships, Rocket Lab continues to solidify its role in the small satellite launch industry. The completion of Kinéis’ IoT satellite constellation will further expand global real-time connectivity solutions, benefiting industries worldwide.
If all goes as planned, Rocket Lab will take another step toward enhancing global IoT infrastructure, enabling seamless data transmission across the planet. 🚀🌍
