The European Space Agency launched the first two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission from New Zealand aboard a Rocket Lab Electron launcher on March 28. The mission aims to test a complementary low Earth orbit navigation layer that could enhance existing satellite positioning systems.
The two satellites were launched at 10:14 CET and separated from the launcher approximately one hour later. The spacecraft entered a quasi-polar low Earth orbit at an altitude of 510 kilometers, positioning them to begin their demonstration mission.