Rocket Lab launched its first mission of 2026 on Jan. 22, sending two Open Cosmos satellites into a planned circular orbit about 1,050 km above Earth. The flight, named "The Cosmos Will See You Now," was Rocket Lab’s 80th mission and the company’s first dedicated launch for Open Cosmos. The satellites are the first elements of Open Cosmos’ planned telecommunications constellation and were deployed by Electron’s kick stage roughly 70 minutes after liftoff. Rocket Lab also noted its recent pace of operations, setting a company record with 21 launches in 2025.
Rocket Lab Opens 2026 With 'The Cosmos Will See You Now' — Two Open Cosmos Satellites Launched to 1,050 km
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches two satellites for the European company Open Cosmos from New Zealand on Jan. 22, 2026. | Credit: Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab kicked off 2026 with a successful launch on Jan. 22, lofting two satellites for European firm Open Cosmos into a high low-Earth orbit.
Mission Overview
An Electron rocket carrying two Open Cosmos spacecraft lifted off from Rocket Lab’s launch complex in New Zealand at 5:52 a.m. EST (1052 GMT; 11:52 p.m. local time). About 70 minutes after liftoff, Electron’s kick stage released the pair into the planned circular orbit approximately 1,050 kilometers (652 miles) above Earth.
First Dedicated Flight For Open Cosmos
This mission — dubbed "The Cosmos Will See You Now" by Rocket Lab — was the company’s first flight dedicated specifically to Open Cosmos. The two satellites are the initial elements of Open Cosmos’ planned telecommunications constellation in low Earth orbit, intended to expand global connectivity and provide complementary metadata and monitoring capabilities alongside existing Earth-observation assets.
Open Cosmos’ website says: "Our approach not only dramatically lowers the costs, complexity and timescales of missions, but it also simplifies access to EO [Earth observation] data in a way that removes the barriers for all companies — even non-space customers — to address society’s most urgent challenges."
In an emailed statement after the flight, Rocket Lab added that the new constellation "complements the already-in-orbit satellites that deliver high-resolution imagery and global monitoring capabilities, supporting a wide range of applications and providing valuable metadata for diverse uses."
Company Context
"The Cosmos Will See You Now" marked Rocket Lab’s 80th mission overall. Most launches have used the company's 59-foot (18-meter) Electron vehicle, which provides dedicated rides for small satellites to Earth orbit and beyond. Rocket Lab has also flown a small number of missions with HASTE, a suborbital variant of Electron designed to let customers test hypersonic technologies in a space-like environment.
Rocket Lab set a company record in 2025 with 21 launches, surpassing its prior high of 16 missions in 2024 — a run that underscores the growing cadence of commercial small-satellite deployment.
Why It Matters
The flight advances Open Cosmos’ effort to build a telecom constellation that can broaden access to communications and data services, while demonstrating Rocket Lab’s continued role as a reliable launcher for smallsat operators and emerging space companies.
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