Rocket Lab launches first ESA mission, deploying new Celeste navigation satellites

Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch its first dedicated mission for the European Space Agency (ESA) on March 24, 2026. The mission, named Daughter of the Stars, will lift off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

The flight will deploy the first two demonstrator satellites for Celeste, Europe’s new navigation constellation. These pathfinders will enter a 510km low Earth orbit. The mission supports ESA’s LEO-PNT program to complement existing Galileo and EGNOS services.

This contract enhances Rocket Lab’s credibility as a global launch provider for major international agencies. While the launch occurs today, the initial contract announcement previously drove a surge in retail investor sentiment.