Kinéis Network Set to Begin Commercial Operations on June 1
Mar 23, 2025
Rocket Lab recently achieved a significant milestone by completing the deployment of an Internet-of-Things satellite constellation for French company Kinéis. The final launch of an Electron rocket occurred on March 17, 2025, from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, successfully placing five satellites into sun synchronous orbits at 650 kilometers. This is the result of a contract signed by the companies in 2021 that will see five missions and 25 satellites deployed.
A Rocket Lab Electron lifted off on March 17, completing the final launch of satellites for Kinéis. Credit: Rocket Lab
The satellites that were launched on each mission weighed 28 kilograms each and were placed in such a way as to form a network of five identical satellites which would enable global coverage. Rocket Lab’s ability to implement this methodical approach to constellation deployment is a testament to its ability to deliver complex mission requirements with precision and reliability, and it helps Rocket Lab to solidify itself as a key player in a burgeoning satellite launch market. According to Kinéis, their constellation will start commercial services on June 1 and provide Internet-of-Things communications and vessel tracking via Automatic Identification System transponders with a maximum data latency of 15 minutes. This achievement, said the chairman of the supervisory board of Kinéis, marked the start of a new era for the company, in which its constellation will allow its clients and partners to unlock numerous opportunities.
Rocket Lab’s ability to provide launches at this operational tempo is indicative of its capacity and efficiency in the small satellite launch market, and this gives Rocket Lab a major competitor standing. Four launches in the first quarter of 2025 alone is a significant measure of progress for the company toward their stated goal of doing more than 20 Electron launches this year, including the deployment of HASTE, the suborbital version. Rocket Lab’s chief executive, Peter Beck, noted the company’s capability to offer dedicated launches, with customers able to choose where, when and at what orbital parameters they want to launch their spacecraft, to achieve maximum coverage. This represents a significant competitive advantage in constellation operations, as constellation operators would otherwise have to wait years for their first missions. In less than a year, Rocket Lab has deployed the whole Kinéis constellation, demonstrating their efficiency and reliability in supporting the satellite network developer community.
The company has intentionally positioned the Electron rocket as a very good constellation deployment option thanks to its ability to control orbits and schedules more tightly than other options. This is different from the increasingly popular idea among some satellite developers to use a low cost rideshare launches from SpaceX and similar competitors. As the satellite industry continues to demand more specialized orbital placements, Rocket Lab’s dedication to providing dedicated, tailored launch services will become increasingly valuable. Rocket Lab is building on its Electron ambitions with the development of medium lift Neutron. Despite fierce competition, Rocket Lab keeps up the pace with regular launches, high reliability and custom service. As they become a go-to partner for constellation developers, their dual rocket strategy puts them in a great position for significant growth. With the company’s trajectory, it seems that they are on the right track to become a leader in innovation and market expansion in the face of the industry’s challenges and in the lead of new opportunities in the upcoming space launch sector.
