This mission carries a verification satellite for South Korea’s new government-backed microsatellite constellation, flying from Rocket Lab’s launch site on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. Built jointly by Satrec Initiative, KAIST’s Satellite Technology Research Center, and KARI, it supports the country’s first mass-produced satellite system dedicated to high-precision monitoring of the Korean Peninsula and follows an initial prototype satellite that is already in orbit.

The launch date is currently targeted for January, 2026 (UTC).

NEONSAT-1A

This mission carries a verification satellite for South Korea’s new government-backed microsatellite constellation, flying from Rocket Lab’s launch site on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. Built jointly by Satrec Initiative, KAIST’s Satellite Technology Research Center, and KARI, it supports the country’s first mass-produced satellite system dedicated to high-precision monitoring of the Korean Peninsula and follows an initial prototype satellite that is already in orbit.