Launches · Electron · Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9): where you can see the launch
Rocket Lab's Electron is set to launch The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand at around 9 PM GMT+13 on Monday, November 2, 2026, though that time isn't confirmed yet.
It most likely flies east. The exact path isn't published, so a few places below are marked as depending on it.
It's dark by then, so the flame shows as a bright, moving light.
Low on the horizon from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and 1 more.
Launch times often slip, sometimes by days. This page follows the latest schedule, so check back on the day.
Can I see it from my city? 4 cities within 1,500 km
| City | Distance | Look toward | Highest | When | View | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton, NZ | 278 km (173 mi) | southeast | 13° | 2–8 min after liftoff | Low on the horizon depends on the path | 278 km (173 mi) · look southeast · up to 13° · 2–8 min after liftoff |
| Wellington, NZ | 346 km (215 mi) | northeast, moving east | 12° | 2–8 min after liftoff | Low on the horizon depends on the path | 346 km (215 mi) · look northeast, moving east · up to 12° · 2–8 min after liftoff |
| Auckland, NZ | 382 km (237 mi) | southeast | 10° | 2–8 min after liftoff | Low on the horizon | 382 km (237 mi) · look southeast · up to 10° · 2–8 min after liftoff |
| Christchurch, Canterbury, NZ | 644 km (400 mi) | northeast | 6° | 3–7 min after liftoff | Low on the horizon | 644 km (400 mi) · look northeast · up to 6° · 3–7 min after liftoff |
From where you are
Not near one of these cities? or pick a place:
The launch
- Liftoff
- Nov 2, 2026, 9:45 PM GMT+13 (to the hour)
- Launch window
- 9:45 PM–7:15 AM GMT+13
- Status
- Time not confirmed
- Rocket
- Electron (Rocket Lab)
- Mission
- The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9), earth science
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
- Pad
- Unknown Pad, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.
Mission summary from Launch Library 2.
What you'll see
A rocket at night looks like a bright, steady light climbing slowly, often with a glowing trail. After two or three minutes it gets smaller as it heads downrange, and you may see the first stage drop away.
Saw it?
If you see it, report it and your sighting will show up here.
Coming up next
How we work this out: we follow a typical climb to orbit (about 70 km up two and a half minutes after liftoff, and about 210 km up and 1,400 km downrange after eight) in the direction the rocket flies, then work out how high above each city's horizon it gets and how dark that city's sky is. Clouds, hills and city lights aren't included. Launch times come from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs. More on our methods.