In a giant leap for New Zealand's space industry, Rocket Lab has launched its first in-house designed and built satellite, making it the nation's first operational satellite in orbit.
The satellite was launched as part of the company's electron mission on Monday from Mahia in Hawke's Bay.
It was the company's first successful launch since a failed mission in July.
The satellite, called First Light, serves as a technology demonstration to test its systems for an extended period in orbit.
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