\nRocket Lab USA, Inc (\u201cRocket Lab\u201d or the \u201cCompany\u201d) (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch provider and space systems company, today announced it has been awarded a contract to deploy an entire satellite constellation across five dedicated Electron missions for Kin\u00e9is, a global Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity provider.\n<\/p>\n
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210908005554\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n \nScheduled for launch beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the constellation will enable Kin\u00e9is, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government\u2019s space agency CNES (Centre National d’\u00c9tudes Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites) an international space-based solutions provider, to improve its global IoT connectivity. The multi-launch contract with Kin\u00e9is, which is subject to standard termination and launch rescheduling provisions, follows a similar bulk buy of launches earlier this year to deploy nine satellites across five dedicated Electron missions as part of a constellation for BlackSky, a provider of real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services.\n<\/p>\n \nKin\u00e9is CEO, Alexandre Tisserant, says: \u201cWe are glad to entrust our constellation of 25 satellites to Rocket Lab. They are the leaders in small satellite launch and the obvious choice as launch partner to activate our constellation at such a pace. We designed and developed our 25 satellites in record time with the support of CNES, Thal\u00e8s Al\u00e9nia Space and HEMERIA in order to deliver a full new operational service to our existing and future customers – we are now eagerly counting down to first launch in 2023!\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nThe proven accuracy and reliability of Electron\u2019s Kick Stage in successfully deploying 100+ satellites to date was a decisive factor in Kin\u00e9is selecting Rocket Lab as its launch partner. The Kick Stage will act as an orbital transfer vehicle to deliver each satellite in the Kin\u00e9is constellation to their precise orbital planes at a 650km altitude, allowing Kin\u00e9is to avoid sacrificing spacecraft mass for propulsion and to begin a fully operational service as quickly as possible.\n<\/p>\n \nRocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says: \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to be Kin\u00e9is\u2019 launch partner and look forward to delivering their constellation across five dedicated missions in quick succession. Deploying an entire constellation and having it operational quickly requires each satellite to be deployed to exactly the right orbit. Rocket Lab\u2019s track record of exceptional orbital deployment accuracy provides Kin\u00e9is with that assurance. By taking care of in-space transport, the Kick Stage makes life much easier for satellite constellation operators, enabling them to maximize spacecraft mass for their payload.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nKin\u00e9is currently operates the Argos system, an international scientific collaboration between CNES, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to monitor wildlife, fisheries, and to collect data about Earth\u2019s climate and environment through CLS. Kin\u00e9is\u2019 new constellation will complete the current system with more powerful 30kg-class nanosats that integrate IoT technology and a ship-tracking Automatic Identification System (AIS). Once deployed, this technology will allow Kin\u00e9is to expand across multiple industries and scale from 20,000 devices connected to millions.\n<\/p>\n \nIn addition to these missions, Rocket Lab will further contribute to the international Argos system with another upcoming Electron launch. Rocket Lab is the launch provider for the Argos-4 mission for General Atomics, which is developing the satellite for the United States Space Force on behalf of NOAA. That mission is currently scheduled to launch early 2022.\n<\/p>\n \n+ Images & Video Content About Rocket Lab:<\/b><\/p>\n \nRocket Lab is a global leader in space, building rockets and spacecraft that make it easier to get to orbit and to do amazing things there. Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab provides end-to-end mission services that provide frequent and reliable access to space for civil, defense, and commercial markets. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron launch vehicles and Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 105 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab has two launch sites, including a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand, and a second launch site in Virginia, USA expected to be operational by the end of 2021. Rocket Lab\u2019s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n About Kin\u00e9is:<\/b><\/p>\n \nCreated in 2018, Kin\u00e9is is a satellite operator and global connectivity provider. It inherited 40 years of expertise in the Argos system, founded by CNES (French space agency) and historically operated by CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). Its mission is to develop reliable technology that provides easy access to useful satellite data. To make life easier for professionals and individuals and encourage them to use its products and services, Kin\u00e9is locates and connects objects wherever they are on the planet. Thanks to its technological innovation capabilities, Kin\u00e9is forges links between New Space and IoT and connects hundreds of customers with satellite IoT. In Q2 2021, Kin\u00e9is won two projects funded by the European program Eurostars: Forestens (forest fire prevention) and Catset (a decision support toolset eartag for extensive cattle farming).\n<\/p>\n \nIn 2020, Kin\u00e9is has raised \u20ac100 million in equity (CLS 32%, CNES 26%, Bpifrance 20%, Ifremer, Thal\u00e8s, HEMERIA, CELAD, BNP Paribas D\u00e9veloppement, ETHICS Group, MJKD, Consuls D\u00e9veloppement, Invest Marel, and others) and generated \u20ac7 million revenues (a 40% increase compared to 2019). In 2021, Kin\u00e9is has been listed on the highly-selective French Tech Next40 company index.\n<\/p>\n Forward-Looking Statements<\/b><\/p>\n \nThis press release may contain certain \u201cforward-looking statements\u201d within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, including without limitation expectations regarding the number and timing of scheduled launches, are based on Rocket Lab\u2019s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab\u2019s control), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including production delays or failures, design and engineering flaws, launch failures, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics, changes in governmental regulations or in the status of our regulatory approvals or applications, or other events that force us to cancel or reschedule launches, including customer contractual rescheduling and termination rights, and the other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab\u2019s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading \u201cRisk Factors\u201d and elsewhere (including that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks discussed therein). There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those that we have anticipated. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\n<\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210908005554\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \n+ Rocket Lab Media Contact \n+ Kin\u00e9is Lab Media Contact KEYWORDS:<\/b> United States North America California<\/p>\n INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:<\/b> Research Mobile\/Wireless Networks Other Defense Internet Contracts Data Management Technology Defense Satellite Science Aerospace Manufacturing<\/p>\n
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www.rocketlabusa.com\/about-us\/updates\/link-to-rocket-lab-imagery-and-video\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Murielle Baker
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media@rocketlabusa.com
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+64 27 538 9040
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Juliette Reitzer
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jreitzer@kineis.com
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+33 785 81 41 12\n<\/p>\n
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