The mission, dubbed “Daughter of the stars”, blasted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on 28 March, with lift-off at 10:14pm NZT. The company’s Electron rocket delivered the European Space Agency’s (ESA) “Celeste” mission into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 510 kilometres.
The launch carried the first two satellites in a new navigation demonstration program designed to enhance Europe’s positioning systems. The Celeste mission will test how a fleet of low-Earth orbit satellites can work alongside the existing Galileo constellation, which operates in medium Earth orbit and underpins Europe’s global navigation capability.
The two spacecraft, developed by European industry teams led by GMV in Spain and Thales Alenia Space in France, will trial next-generation technologies. These are expected to support a wide range of future applications, including autonomous vehicles, maritime navigation, wireless communications, emergency services and critical infrastructure.
The successful mission adds to Rocket Lab’s strong track record supporting national space programs, including launches for NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Korea Aerospace Administration, with the company maintaining a 100 per cent success rate for these customers.
Founder and chief executive Sir Peter Beck said precision remained critical when establishing new satellite constellations.
“Getting the orbit exactly right from the start is essential,” he said. “That’s why operators continue to choose Electron for dedicated launches – they know they can rely on its accuracy to build a strong foundation in space. Delivering this mission for ESA is a proud moment for the team and reinforces Electron’s position as a global leader for small satellite launches.”
ESA’s director of navigation, Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, said the mission marked the beginning of a new chapter for European navigation systems.
“These first two Celeste satellites are an important step forward,” he said. “Systems like Galileo and EGNOS have already delivered major economic and strategic benefits for Europe. Celeste will show how adding a low-Earth orbit layer can make these systems more resilient, more capable and open up entirely new services.”
The “Daughter of the stars” mission was Rocket Lab’s sixth launch of the year, with more missions lined up throughout 2026, including commercial Earth observation, government payloads, national security work and hypersonic technology development.