Rocket Lab launches its 1st mission of 2026, sending 2 satellites to orbit

Rocket Lab just launched its first mission of 2026. An Electron rocket carrying two satellites for the European company Open Cosmos lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today (Jan. 22) at 5:52 a.m. EST (1052 GMT; 11:52 p.m. local time in New Zealand). Electron's "kick stage" deployed the two spacecraft into a circular orbit 1,050 kilometers (652 miles) above Earth as planned about 70 minutes after liftoff. More

(Source: Space.com - Jan 23)