On January 29, 2026, after weeks of delay, Rocket Lab successfully launched a satellite into orbit on a mission to track disasters in South Korea. The mission, named Bridging the Swarm, launched the KAIST NeonSat-1A satellite, which will also provide real-time detection of natural disasters in the Korean Peninsula.

It is the second launch of 2026 and the 81st of the total 2025 Rocket Lab launches. Bridging the Swarm mission According to reports, an 18-meter Electron rocket was launched from a New Zealand launch site on January 29 with the Bridging the Swarm mission.

The launch was rescheduled from the original date and even canceled at the last minute in mid-December. The second launch was successful, with the kick stage placing the NeonSat-1A satellite into orbit approximately 540 km above the Earth’s surface about 54 minutes after liftoff. NEONSAT-1A is described as “an advanced Earth-observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical camera” that will provide near-real-time images of natural disasters on the Korean Peninsula.

It is the sequel to KAIST’s earlier NEONSAT, which was launched in April 2024. Launch Cadence and Future Plan Rocket Lab is launching at an increased rate. In 2025, it broke its own record by launching 21 Electrons in a year.

According to CEO Peter Beck, the company will expand Electron’s presence to other parts of the world with satellite constellation launches, space agency missions and further defense-related launches. Rocket Lab is currently working on a new, larger launch vehicle called Neutron, which is about 43 meters long and has a reusable first stage. Neutron has the capability to carry 13 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, which will allow it to launch large satellite constellations.