Rocket Lab Lands Multi-Launch Deal

“To infinity and beyond!” that’s Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase, but today it’s got me thinking about IoT. Satellite connectivity is putting the Internet of Things in orbit, with a flight path beyond the stratosphere of projections.

Rocket Lab announced a Multi-Launch deal to deploy the entire satellite constellation for Kineis. The project includes 25 IoT satellites launched via five dedicated missions leveraging the Electron launch vehicle.

Kineis represents a private/public partnership including Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS). Rocket Lab’s proven track record of more than 100 satellite deployments with Elctron’s Kick Stage separated them from the pack. Kick Stage serves as an orbital transfer vehicle, ensuring precise placement of each satellite.

Once deployed, the constellation introduces IoT integration and a ship-tracking Automated Identification System (AIS) to the Argos system – an international collaboration between NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), EUMETSAT (European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorogical Satellites) , ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)and CNES to collect climate data and monitor fisheries and other wildlife populations.

The first satellites will go up in Q2 2023.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, exclaimed “We’re thrilled to be Kinéis’ launch partner and look forward to delivering their constellation across five dedicated missions in quick succession. Deploying an entire constellation and having it operational quickly requires each satellite to be deployed to exactly the right orbit. Rocket Lab’s track record of exceptional orbital deployment accuracy provides Kinéis with that assurance. By taking care of in-space transport, the Kick Stage makes life much easier for satellite constellation operators, enabling them to maximize spacecraft mass for their payload.”