Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 61st Electron Mission, Second Launch for iQPS

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully completed its 61st Electron mission, launching the QPS-SAR-9 spacecraft for Japanese customer iQPS from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on March 15, 2025.

The mission, named 'The Lightning God Reigns', deployed the satellite to a 575km circular Earth orbit. This marks the second launch for iQPS, following their first collaboration in December 2023. The launch is part of a significant agreement comprising eight new launches scheduled throughout 2025-2026, with five more planned for 2025 and two for 2026.

The launches will contribute to iQPS' ambitious plan to create a constellation of up to 36 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, designed for Earth observation in all weather conditions, day and night, providing near real-time data globally. The next iQPS mission is scheduled for May 2025.

Positive

• Secured major multi-launch agreement with iQPS for 8 launches through 2025-2026
• Successfully executed second mission for returning customer iQPS
• Demonstrated rapid launch capability with next mission scheduled just 3 days later
• Building strong presence in the growing SAR satellite constellation market

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Rocket Lab's successful launch represents continued execution on a significant multi-launch agreement with iQPS. This mission marks the first of eight contracted launches spanning 2025-2026, with five more scheduled for this year alone. The company explicitly describes this as "one of the largest Electron launch agreements to date," signaling meaningful revenue visibility through next year.

The operational efficiency demonstrated here is noteworthy - Rocket Lab is launching another mission in just three days, highlighting their ability to maintain a rapid cadence that supports constellation deployment customers. This capability is particularly valuable for satellite constellation operators who need predictable, dedicated access to specific orbits.

By specializing in dedicated small satellite launches rather than rideshare missions, Rocket Lab occupies a specific market niche serving customers like iQPS who are building out radar imaging constellations requiring precise orbital placement. The CEO's comments emphasize the company's value proposition of providing "total flexibility and control over schedule, orbit, and other critical mission elements" - attributes that command premium pricing in the launch market.

While individual launches aren't typically material financial events for launch providers, the confirmation of continued execution on multi-launch agreements demonstrates Rocket Lab's ability to convert contracts into revenue while maintaining operational excellence.

Aerospace Engineer

This launch success further validates Rocket Lab's technical reliability with their 61st Electron mission completed successfully. The deployment of iQPS's SAR satellite to a 575km circular orbit demonstrates precise orbital insertion capabilities essential for constellation deployment customers.

The rapid turnaround capability - launching again within three days - showcases remarkable operational efficiency that few competitors can match in the small launch market. This rapid cadence capability isn't merely a marketing point but represents sophisticated launch infrastructure, streamlined processes, and technical maturity.

SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) constellations like iQPS's are particularly valuable in the Earth observation market because they can image through cloud cover and darkness - capabilities optical satellites lack. By reliably deploying these specialized payloads, Rocket Lab is strengthening its position in a high-value segment of the satellite launch market.

The company's focus on dedicated small satellite launches provides customers with orbital precision and schedule control not typically available through rideshare missions on larger rockets. This specialization aligns perfectly with the needs of constellation operators who require specific orbital planes for optimal coverage.

The consistent execution of back-to-back launches demonstrates that Rocket Lab has effectively transitioned from developmental launches to regular operational cadence - a challenging milestone that many launch companies struggle to achieve.

MAHIA, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its second mission for Japanese customer, the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).

‘The Lightning God Reigns’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 1:00 p.m. NZDT (00:00 UTC) on March 15, 2025 to successfully deploy iQPS’ QPS-SAR-9 spacecraft to a 575km circular Earth orbit. The mission follows Rocket Lab’s first launch for the company in December 2023, when Electron deployed another QPS-SAR satellite as part of iQPS’ newly established radar imaging constellation.

“The Lightning God Reigns” is the first of eight new launches for iQPS that are scheduled to launch throughout 2025 and 2026 as part of one of the largest Electron launch agreements to date. Five more launches are expected to take place in 2025, with the remaining two scheduled for 2026. Rocket Lab’s next mission for iQPS is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2025.

Each mission has been commissioned to build out iQPS’ planned constellation of up to 36 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The constellation is capable of imaging the Earth day and night and through any weather, to provide near real-time observation data for almost any location in the world.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Congratulations to the Rocket Lab and iQPS teams on yet another successful mission together. Every Electron launch in 2025 so far has been to expand a satellite constellation and with this latest mission success, you can see why. Electron provides our customers with total flexibility and control over their schedule, orbit, and other critical mission elements to create their constellation exactly as they need it. We’re looking forward to continuing our constellation build out for iQPS this year and next.”

iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: “I sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work of the teams at iQPS and Rocket Lab in making this launch mission a success, and I am truly impressed by the short timeline from QPS-SAR-9’s departure from Fukuoka, Japan, through its journey via Mahia Peninsula, to its successful deployment into LEO. As we prepare for the launch of seven more QPS-SARs between this year and next year, I am reassured by the reliability and efficiency of Electron in executing missions like this one.”

Rocket Lab’s next mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in just three days’ time on March 18, 2025 NZDT.

Full details are available here: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

Launch images: Flight 61 | The Lightning God Reigns | Flickr

Launch webcast: Rocket Lab - 'The Lightning God Reigns' Launch - YouTube

About Rocket Lab

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, a family of flight-proven spacecraft, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 200 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250314452494/en/

Rocket Lab Media Contact

Murielle Baker

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

What is the value of Rocket Lab's 8-launch agreement with iQPS?

The specific financial terms of the launch agreement were not disclosed in the press release.

How many satellites will be in iQPS's complete constellation supported by RKLB launches?

iQPS plans to build a constellation of up to 36 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.

When is Rocket Lab's next iQPS launch scheduled?

The next iQPS mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2025.

What orbit did RKLB's Electron rocket deploy the QPS-SAR-9 spacecraft to?

The spacecraft was deployed to a 575km circular Earth orbit.

How many more iQPS launches will RKLB conduct in 2025?

Rocket Lab has scheduled five more iQPS launches for 2025.