The Defence Force has placed its first payload in space, with initial health checks showing the experimental “Korimako” device is operating as expected.

Korimako rode to orbit on a US Naval Postgraduate School research satellite launched by a Rocket Lab Electron from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. A Defence Science & Technology (DST) team is now monitoring and interacting with the payload via the NZDF’s Whangaparaoa Ground Station, north of Auckland.

“This is the first time the NZDF has had a payload put into space and represents an exciting milestone for both the NZDF and the wider New Zealand space enterprise,” DST Director David Galligan said.

The NZDF stresses Korimako is not an operational platform. The project is intended to build practical experience in space science and technology, test processes for government space operations, and inform future Defence and public-sector space development. “The launch of this payload is significant for the NZDF and was made possible with the support of our international partners,” Dr Galligan said.

Hosted on a briefcase‑sized US satellite, the payload is circling the planet roughly every 90 minutes at about 515 km altitude—well beyond naked‑eye visibility. The device takes its name from the korimako (bellbird) after its beacon signal was likened to the bird’s call.

Korimako is the first of two experimental payloads named after native birds. A second, Tui, is planned for launch from the United States later this year.

While Rocket Lab typically flies from Mahia, this mission lifted off from the company’s US pad. For the NZDF, the operational focus now shifts to ground communications, data handling and procedure‑setting around the Whangaparaoa station as the team works the payload through its early tests.