Launch Window Established for Black Sky Gen-3 Satellite
Rocket Lab Plans to Launch the Spacecraft May 28
The launch window for the next mission for real-time space-based intelligence company BlackSky has been announced by Rocket Lab. The mission, named ‘Full Stream Ahead, will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on May 28th, 2025 UTC (May 27 EDT).
“With every Gen-3 addition we improve revisit rates, capacity and the quantity and quality of actionable intelligence for our customers.”
Brian O'Toole, BlackSky
The mission will launch the next of BlackSky’s Gen-3 satellites to a mid-inclination circular 470 km (≈292 mile) orbit, where it will join the remainder of the company’s constellation delivering very high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics for daily intelligence operations.
Full Stream Ahead is the second in a series of four Electron launches booked by BlackSky to deploy its Gen-3 satellites to orbit this year, and the tenth overall launch for the company – making Electron the most prolific launcher for their constellation to date.
Rocket Lab’s launch for BlackSky will be the seventh Electron mission of 2025, its 65th launch overall, and will bring the total number of satellites delivered to space by Rocket Lab to 226.
“Each successive Gen-3 launch represents a major step forward for our global defense and intelligence customer base with the prospect of new mission applications that will be enabled by combining very high-resolution imaging with high-frequency monitoring and advanced AI analytics,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “With every Gen-3 addition we improve revisit rates, capacity and the quantity and quality of actionable intelligence for our customers.”
BlackSky is using advanced software and AI-enabled automation to accelerate space-based intelligence capabilities through disruptive speed, economics and insights. The company has signed multiple early access contracts for Gen-3 services with anticipated general commercial availability anticipated to begin by Q, and is on track to place eight Gen-3 satellites on orbit by early 2026.