Posted: Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 11:00 AM ET (1600 GMT)
Rocket Lab launched the first two satellites for a new constellation by Open Cosmos Thursday. An Electron lifted off from New Zealand at 5:52 am EST (1052 GMT), deploying the two satellites into a 1,050-kilometer polar orbit a little more than an hour later. The satellites are the first in a telecommunications system intended to provide “sovereign-ready, enterprise-grade space infrastructure.” Open Cosmos said testing of the two satellites will directly inform the cadence of subsequent launches and the planned expansion of service capabilities later this year. The company is using spectrum it received from Liechtenstein that was originally assigned to a constellation by Rivada Space Networks. The launch was the first this year by Rocket Lab, which conducted 21 Electron launches in 2025.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Space.com article
•  Rocket Lab press release