The company plans to launch its 12th mission in 2024, named after the Jimmy Buffett song “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” no earlier than Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. EST. Lifting off from Rocket Lab’s proprietary Launch Complex 1 facility in New Zealand, the company’s Electron rocket will launch a satellite into orbit for a confidential commercial customer. This will be the company’s 54th mission and 50th from Launch Complex 1.

Rocket Lab is no stranger to launching for sensitive clients such as the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and NASA. It also serves a multitude of commercial clients.

The company added the mission to its manifesto in October after signing a launch contract less than two months earlier. The flight was scheduled to launch three days later, which he said would have been the quickest launch time, but was canceled to allow more time for final checks.

“Rocket Lab’s on-order rapid launch capability, its standardized and rapid production of Electron launchers that ensure a rocket can be assigned a payload for launch on demand within days, responsive launch sites and its experienced team behind the second most frequent launch. American orbital rockets are key elements for this mission,” the company said in a statement. update on its website.

It’s possible that Rocket Lab’s mystery shopper is former client E-Space, a communications company that builds satellite constellations designed to survive in low Earth orbit. Partners in 2022 deployed 34 satellites during a mission that also included Rocket Lab’s first attempt to catch Electron’s first stage using a helicopter.

The launch companies are required to apply to the New Zealand Space Agency when launching from New Zealand soil. Rocket Lab clients Synspective, Capella Space and Kinéis are present list from approved payload providers, for example. Also on this list is E-Space, which received the green light on September 19. This matches Rocket Lab’s timeline of less than two months from contract to launch.

StardustMe, a startup that launches ashes into space, also received approval for its payload in September, but it is working with Rocket Lab competitor SpaceX.

Rocket Lab said FLIGHT The company has backup launch dates throughout November in case Tuesday’s attempt is canceled.