Fasten Your Space Belts (BlackSky Gen-3 1)
Electron, Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Launch time
T-0
Wed 19 Feb, 00:17 CET
Tue 18 Feb, 23:17 UTC
The rocket put its payload into the planned orbit.
How sure is this date?
The source gives minute precision. Launch plans can change.
Launch record updated by LL2
Feed checkedMission
Fasten Your Space Belts (BlackSky Gen-3 1) on Electron. Tue 18 Feb 2025, 23:17 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B. Source: Launch Library 2.
The first of five BlackSky Technology missions to deploy its new next-generation BlackSky Gen-3 satellites. The commercial constellation of Gen-3 satellites has the capability to produce imagery with 50-centimeter resolution and host multiple sensors, including in shortwave infrared (SWIR). The improved resolution and enhanced spectral diversity of the Gen-3 satellites will expand BlackSky's ability to provide real-time information to its customers.
- Mission type
- Earth Science
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Rocket file imagery
File imagery: Virginia is for Launch Lovers, 24 January 2023. Electron lifting off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Wallops.
Credit: NASA/Danielle Johnson · Public domain (NASA) · SourceMission patches
- Fasten Your Space Belts
Patch artwork is not shown because its image licence is unconfirmed.
Launch timeline
Times are relative to liftoff.
- T-2 min
Startup
The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
- T-2 s
Ignition
Start of the engine ignition sequence
- T-0
Liftoff
First upwards movement of the rocket
- T+57 s
Supersonic
Vehicle is supersonic
- T+1 min 9 s
Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
- T+2 min 38 s
MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
- T+2 min 41 s
Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
- T+2 min 44 s
SES
Start of the second engine
- T+3 min 32 s
Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
- T+6 min 34 s
Battery Hotswap
Electron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.
- T+9 min 11 s
SECO
Cut-off of the second engine
- T+9 min 15 s
Kick Stage Separation
Separation of the kick stage from the previous stage
- T+51 min 20 s
Kick Stage Ignition
Start of the kick stage engine
- T+54 min 43 s
Kick Stage Cut-off
Cut-off of the kick stage engine
- T+55 min 28 s
Payload Separation
Final deployment of the payload from the rocket
Slip history
Changes recorded by Space Right Now
No changes since we started tracking on .
Source updates from Launch Library 2 (9)
Announcements supplied by LL2 may predate our tracking. They are separate from changes observed by Space Right Now.
- LL2 update
Launch success.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Spacecraft separation.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Liftoff.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started
Read the source update - LL2 update
New T-0.
Read the source update - LL2 update
GO for launch.
Read the source update - LL2 update
NET February.
Read the source update - LL2 update
NET November.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Adding launch NET 2024
Read the source update
Launch pad
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (NZ)
Coordinates: -39.262833, 177.864469
View launch pad on a map