We're Not Hawking Around
We're Not Hawking Around is an upcoming Rocket Lab Electron mission for HawkEye 360, targeting no earlier than 21 October 2026 from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
Mission State
Rocket Lab has not published a precise launch time yet.
Coverage often appears closer to launch, especially for updated NET dates.
Launch Updates
-
Added tentative launch window.
by Cosmic_Penguin Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com -
NET October 21.
by Cosmic_Penguin Source: x.com -
NET Q3, from LC-1.
by Cosmic_Penguin Source: mbie.govt.nz
Updates via Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).
Mission Overview
HawkEye 360 is a a space-based civil global intelligence satellite network using radio frequency (RF) technology to help monitor transportation across air, land and sea and assist with emergencies, and to provide civil SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) mission. The constellation of small satellites (named Hawk ) will collect information on specific radio signals worldwide to provide high-precision radio frequency mapping and analytics from Low Earth orbit (LEO).
Technical Details
- We're Not Hawking Around rocketlabcorp.com
Launch hazard areas
Sea areas published as navigational warnings for We're Not Hawking Around (launch 21 Oct 2026).
- Launch hazard area
- Debris area
- Launch pad (LC-1)
- Launch hazard area Launch hazard area
- Validity
- Valid 21 Oct – 3 Nov 2026, daily 0500Z–0845Z
- Vertices
- 39°12.0′S 178°00.0′E39°15.0′S 178°03.0′E39°45.0′S 177°54.0′E39°45.0′S 177°36.0′E39°15.0′S 177°42.0′E39°12.0′S 177°48.0′E
- Source
- NZ Coastal 261/26 · Maritime NZ coastal navigational warning (via SeaLagom)
- Space debris area Debris area
- Validity
- Valid 21 Oct – 3 Nov 2026, daily 0500Z–0845Z
- Vertices
- 43°30.0′S 175°30.0′E43°30.0′S 177°30.0′E46°30.0′S 176°30.0′E46°30.0′S 174°30.0′E
- Source
- NZ Coastal 261/26 · Maritime NZ coastal navigational warning (via SeaLagom)
- Space debris area Debris area
- Validity
- Valid 21 Oct – 3 Nov 2026, daily 0500Z–0845Z
- Vertices
- 53°30.0′S 172°00.0′E53°30.0′S 173°30.0′E56°30.0′S 172°30.0′E56°30.0′S 171°00.0′E
- Source
- NAVAREA XIV 286/26 · Maritime NZ NAVAREA XIV (via SeaLagom)
Valid 21 Oct – 3 Nov 2026, daily 0500Z–0845Z.
Sources: NZ Coastal 261/26 — Maritime NZ coastal navigational warning (via SeaLagom); NAVAREA XIV 286/26 — Maritime NZ NAVAREA XIV (via SeaLagom). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Illustrative only — not for navigation. Refer to the official warning.
Jellyfish likelihood
Too early to tellToo early to tell — depends on the final launch time.
Details
- Unlikely
- Low
- Moderate
- High
If it flies in the published window (6:00 p.m. NZDT – 9:45 p.m. NZDT), the jellyfish-prone part is:
- 7:48 p.m. NZDT – 8:03 p.m. NZDT (Moderate)
- 8:04 p.m. NZDT – 8:54 p.m. NZDT (High)
- 8:55 p.m. NZDT – 9:12 p.m. NZDT (Moderate)
What's a rocket jellyfish? When a rocket launches in twilight, the ground is dark but its exhaust plume climbs into sunlight high above. The expanding plume glows against the dark sky in a jellyfish-like shape.
