Rocket Lab Electron 54th Payload Successfully Deployed to Space — Why the Secrecy?

On 5 November, 2024, Rocket Lab, an aerospace manufacturer concerned with launching small satellites into space, made its 54th launch. The company took to its official website and X page (former Twitter) to announce the successful launch of its 54th Payload into orbit.

Details We Know

The mission, titled “Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes” is currently praised as one of Rocket Lab’s “fastest turnarounds yet from contract to launch.” According to available details, this mission took weeks from contract signing on 16th October 2024 to the actual launch a few days ago.

According to Rocket Lab’s official website, the launch of the 54th Electron rocket faced no issues. About an hour after the rocket’s lift-off, Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s Chief Executive Officer, tagged the launch a “100% mission success.”

While this mission was a success, there are still questions about the payload and the client that Rocket Lab worked with on this launch. In their official statement about Electron launch, Rocket Lab clearly states that the client will remain confidential (KineisIoT might be the client). The 54th Rocket Lab Electron launch will fly on the southern trajectory in a sun-synchronous orbit.

Rocket Lab Electron

The Rocket Lab Electron is a two-stage partially reusable orbital launch rocket owned by Rocket Lab. It was first launched on 25 May 2017.

From its launch until the “Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes” mission, there have been 53 Electron launches. This mission is also the 12th mission for Rocket Lab in 2024 beating its achievement of 10 rocket launches in 2023. Since its test launch in 2017, this is the first time for Rocket Lab to record a mission under a “Confidential Commercial Customer.”