June 2, 2025, Rocket Lab, a leading launch services and space systems company, successfully launched its 65th Electron rocket, deploying a crucial Earth-observing satellite for its long-standing customer, BlackSky. The mission, dubbed “Full Stream Ahead,” lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 11:57 a.m. NZST (23:57 UTC on June 2nd), marking the second of four Electron launches scheduled for BlackSky in 2025. This latest deployment further expands BlackSky’s Gen-3 constellation, providing enhanced capabilities for high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics for daily intelligence operations.

The “Full Stream Ahead” mission successfully delivered BlackSky’s Gen-3 satellite to a circular orbit 470 kilometers (292 miles) above Earth. This spacecraft will seamlessly integrate with BlackSky’s existing constellation, which is designed to offer rapid revisit rates and low-latency access to high-resolution imagery, crucial for a wide range of applications from national security to disaster response and economic intelligence.

A Decade of Partnership and Prolific Launches

This launch represents a significant milestone in the partnership between Rocket Lab and BlackSky, being the 10th overall Electron launch for the company since 2019. This makes Electron the most prolific launch vehicle for BlackSky’s constellation to date, highlighting Rocket Lab’s consistent reliability and dedicated launch services for small satellite operators.

Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting constellation developers: “Another successful mission to add to Electron’s already stellar track record of providing reliable orbital access for constellation developers across the globe. We’re laser-focused