Rocket Lab successfully launched its first mission of 2026 on January 22nd, deploying two satellites for European space firm Open Cosmos into a precise low Earth orbit. The launch, conducted from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand facility, marks a key step in Open Cosmos’s efforts to expand its satellite-based Earth observation and data services.
Mission Details and Deployment
The mission, dubbed “The Cosmos Will See You Now,” utilized Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. Liftoff occurred at 5:52 a.m. EST (1052 GMT; 11:52 p.m. local time in New Zealand). Roughly 70 minutes after launch, Electron’s kick stage precisely positioned the two Open Cosmos satellites into a circular orbit 652 miles (1,050 kilometers) above Earth.
This deployment is part of Open Cosmos’s plan to establish a constellation of telecom satellites in low Earth orbit. The company specializes in simplifying access to Earth observation (EO) data, aiming to remove barriers for businesses that may not be traditionally involved in space.
Open Cosmos and the Future of Satellite Access
Open Cosmos emphasizes its streamlined approach to satellite missions, which lowers costs and reduces complexity for customers. Their services include satellite design, construction, operation, and advanced data analysis. As stated on their website, they aim to make EO data accessible to all companies, enabling solutions for global challenges.
“Our approach not only dramatically lowers the costs, complexity and timescales of missions, but it also simplifies access to EO [Earth observation] data in a way that removes the barriers for all companies —even non-space customers — to address society’s most urgent challenges.”
Rocket Lab’s Continued Expansion
This launch was Rocket Lab’s 80th overall, the vast majority of which have been carried out using the 59-foot-tall Electron rocket. The company also operates a suborbital version of Electron, HASTE, used for testing hypersonic technologies.
Rocket Lab’s role in facilitating access to space for smaller payloads continues to be crucial in the growing commercialization of space-based services. This mission highlights the increasing role of private companies in deploying and operating satellite infrastructure for both public and commercial applications.
