Rocket Lab Corp. announced on December 11 that it had scrubbed the Bridging the Swarm launch, scheduled for December 10, 2025, after a review of sensor data from the Electron launch vehicle.
The mission, which was to deploy NEONSAT‑1A for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), was delayed because anomalies were detected in the guidance system’s sensor readings. The satellite is an Earth‑observation platform designed to monitor natural disasters on the Korean Peninsula.
Rocket Lab has a history of scrubs for sensor issues, most notably a December 2020 event, and the company said it would reschedule the launch to a later window, with backup opportunities in the coming days. The decision reflects the firm’s cautious approach to launch safety and operational reliability.
The scrub postpones the 19th launch of 2025 and the 77th Electron launch overall, potentially shifting the flight into Q4 and slightly affecting the company’s target of more than 20 launches for the year. The delay is expected to have a minimal impact on quarterly revenue, as the company’s Q4 guidance remains in the $170‑$180 million range.
Management emphasized that the safety review protects customer payloads and preserves the integrity of the Electron program. The company remains on track to meet its revenue guidance for the final quarter of 2025, and the scrub is viewed as a prudent risk‑mitigation step rather than a sign of operational failure.
The event underscores Rocket Lab’s commitment to reliability, balancing operational efficiency with rigorous safety checks. While the launch is delayed, the company’s track record and clear rescheduling plan suggest that the long‑term trajectory of its launch cadence and customer confidence will remain intact.
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