Rocket Lab quietly launched New Zealand's first operational satellite into space from Mahia Peninsula, but only revealed its success today.
The Photon satellite that is now in orbit is nicknamed "First light" - a nod to the elementary particle that is a quantum of light and the East Coast which is first to see the sun rise each morning.
The successful launch is the first since Rocket Lab lost a spacecraft in July during the second stage burn.
Company founder Peter Beck says they did this one on the down low as they wanted to make sure things went smoothy.
