Rocket Lab’s 98th Electron mission succeeds

Rocket Lab successfully launched its 98th Electron mission, delivering a dedicated payload for signals-intelligence company HawkEye 360. The mission, named “We’re Not Hawking Around,” lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on October 23 at 8:11 p.m. NZDT. Electron deployed three HAWK satellites into a 520-kilometer low Earth orbit, marking a new operational milestone for the small launch vehicle.

The three satellites were deployed as part of a focused mission for HawkEye 360, underscoring Rocket Lab’s role as a launch provider for specialized constellations. With this successful flight, Electron’s launch tally reached 98 missions overall, reflecting the rocket’s continued use for commercial and government-focused space operations.

The “We’re Not Hawking Around” mission carried three HAWK satellites that will expand HawkEye 360’s satellite constellation. These spacecraft are designed to detect, geolocate and characterize a broad range of radio frequency signals. Their capabilities support users in government by helping them apply signals intelligence to defense and security missions.

Lifting off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, Electron placed the satellites into a 520-kilometer low Earth orbit. The mission was fully dedicated to HawkEye 360, continuing a launch relationship that focuses on building out a radio-frequency monitoring network in space.

This flight was Rocket Lab’s third dedicated Electron mission for HawkEye 360 since 2023. Each mission has focused on deploying HAWK satellites that contribute to the customer’s radio-frequency-sensing constellation. The continued cadence of launches highlights the role of Electron in supporting recurring deployment needs for a single customer across multiple flights.

By providing dedicated missions, Rocket Lab can tailor trajectories and orbits to HawkEye 360’s constellation requirements. The latest launch supports the addition of new spacecraft to the existing network, enhancing coverage and resilience for radio-frequency data collection used in security-oriented applications.

The successful completion of the “We’re Not Hawking Around” mission marked Rocket Lab’s 19th Electron launch of 2026. It was also described as the company’s 19th successful mission in 2026, underscoring an unbroken run of operational Electron flights so far this year.

The accumulation of 19 missions in 2026 reflects a high launch tempo for Electron within a single calendar year. With the 98th Electron launch now completed, Rocket Lab continues to build its manifest and track record in the small-launch segment, particularly for customers requiring precise low Earth orbit deployments.