iQPS’s satellites are small, high-performance SAR satellites that use a lightweight, large, stowable antenna to collect high resolution images of Earth, even through clouds and adverse weather conditions. Ultimately, the iQPS constellation is planned to have 36 satellites capable of monitoring specific fixed points on Earth every 10 minutes. In addition to launching on Electron, the QPS-SAR satellite will use a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband as its separation system for deployment to space.

Previous mission: Don't Be Such A Square

Next mission: TBD

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

4

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Space Development Agency awards roughly $3.5 billion to 4 companies for 72 missile tracking and warning satellites (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

5

4

Rocket Lab "Don't Be Such A Square" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

Don't Be Such A Square

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-12-18 05:00 | |

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Stats

20th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
78th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

STP-S30 is a complex mission that will deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the DoD and contribute to future space systems development. The primary payload, DiskSat, will demonstrate sustained very low earth orbit (VLEO) flight and test a unique, 1-meter diameter, disk-shaped satellite bus that is designed to increase on-orbit persistence.

Previous mission: RAISE And Shine

Next mission: The Wisdom God Guides

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

6

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Rocket Lab "Bridging The Swarm" launch thread (take two!) (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

3 comments fedilink

Bridging The Swarm

This follows a previous launch attempt on Dec 11th.

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-12-16 00:55:440 | |

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Stats

20th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
78th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

The NeonSat-1A, carrying a high-resolution optical camera, is designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government's Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite), in particular technology improvements identified from operations of NeonSat-1 after its launch in April 2024. These technologies will in turn be incorporated into the next 10 NeonSat under construction, as well as providing more site re-visiting capabilities along with NeonSat-1.

The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula, lead by the Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea’s leading university dedicated to science and technology. Designed to capture near-real time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula, KAIST’s NEONSAT constellation is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions, including SaTReC, which is leading the program’s system design and engineering.

The NEONSAT program is funded by the Korean government’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

Previous mission: RAISE And Shine

Next mission: TBD

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

7

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Rocket Lab "RAISE And Shine" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

RAISE And Shine

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-12-14 00:03:09 | |

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Stats

19th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
77th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

Previous mission: Follow My Speed

Next mission: Bridging The Swarm

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

8

5

[Scrubbed] Rocket Lab "Bridging The Swarm" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

5 comments fedilink

Bridging The Swarm

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-12-11 00:55:00 | |

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| Stream | Link | |

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Stats

19th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
77th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

Previous mission: Follow My Speed

Next mission: RAISE And Shine

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

9

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BlackSky confirms it was the ‘confidential customer’ on recent Rocket Lab Electron rocket launch – Spaceflight Now (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 1 month ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

10

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Rocket Lab chief opens up about Neutron delays, New Glenn’s success, and NASA science (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 month ago by burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

11

4

Rocket Lab "Follow My Speed" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

1 comments fedilink

Follow My Speed

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-11-20 12:16:22 | |

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Stats

18th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
76th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

Previous mission: Prometheus Run

Next mission: RAISE And Shine

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

12

5

Suborbital launch on 2025-11-18 at 13:00 UTC of Rocket Lab Electron HASTE with the "Prometheus Run" mission (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

NextSpaceflight page: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7901/

Van

Led by MDA, the mission deployed a government-provided primary payload developed by the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and multiple secondary payloads by federal and industry partners, which tested key technologies for missile defense applications.

The mission was contracted to Rocket Lab through the DIU’s Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) program, an initiative supporting test and evaluation of new and emerging hypersonic technologies through low cost, responsive and long endurance flight testing.

Official video of liftoff: https://bsky.app/profile/rocketlabcorp.com/post/3m5x64k7oq22c

Previous mission: The Nation God Navigates

Next mission: Follow My Speed

13

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[Eric Berger] Neutron rocket’s debut slips into mid-2026 as company seeks success from the start (arstechnica.com)

submitted 2 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

14

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Rocket Lab "The Nation God Navigates" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

7 comments fedilink

The Nation God Navigates

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-11-05 19:51 | |

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Stats

16th launch for Rocket Lab in 2025.
74th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

QPS-SAR-14 (YACHIHOKO-I)

iQPS’s satellites are small, high-performance SAR satellites that use a lightweight, large, stowable antenna to collect high resolution images of Earth, even through clouds and adverse weather conditions. Ultimately, the iQPS constellation is planned to have 36 satellites capable of monitoring specific fixed points on Earth every 10 minutes. In addition to launching on Electron, the QPS-SAR satellite will use a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband as its separation system for deployment to space.

Previous mission: Owl New World

Next mission: TBD

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

15

5

Rocket Lab's proposed acquisition of Mynaric faces sovereignty test (spacenews.com)

submitted 2 months ago by nemeski@mander.xyz to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

2 comments fedilink

16

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Rocket Lab "Owl New World" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

8 comments fedilink

Owl New World

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-10-14 16:33 | |

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Stats

15th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
73th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

StriX

This is the first of a bulk buy of 10 Electron launches by Synspective to deliver their StriX satellites to low Earth orbit. StriX satellites can collect data with a ground resolution of 1-3m and a swath width of more than 10-30km. Each Electron launch will deliver 1 StriX satellite into orbit. This will be the overall 7th StriX satellite launched by Rocket Lab for Synspective.

Previous mission: HASTE Justin

Next mission: The Nation God Navigates

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!

17

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Peter Beck discusses Neutron development as maiden flight nears - NASASpaceFlight.com (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 3 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

18

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[Jeff Foust] Synspective purchases 10 additional Electron launches (spacenews.com)

submitted 3 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

1 comments fedilink

Article text

Jeff Foust

3–4 minutes

SYDNEY — Synspective, a Japanese company developing a constellation of radar imaging satellites, has signed a deal with Rocket Lab for an additional 10 Electron launches.

The companies announced Sept. 30 during the International Astronautical Congress here that Synspective would purchase 10 Electron launches, each carrying a single StriX radar imaging satellite. The launches will take place from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

Synspective signed a separate contract in June 2024 for 10 Electron launches, scheduled for 2025 through 2027. That was the largest single contract for Electron to date. Rocket Lab notes that Synspective is its largest Electron customer, with six launches completed to date and with a backlog of 21 launches through the end of the decade.

“Regular and reliable launch on a flexible schedule is essential to the buildout of Synspective’s constellation, and Electron has been integral to this from the start as the sole launcher of all StriX satellites in space today,” Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s chief executive, said in a statement.

While Synspective has used Rocket Lab for all its launches to date, it has diversified the launch providers it will work with in the future. It signed a contract earlier this year with SpaceX for launching two satellites on rideshare missions and, in July, reached a deal with launch service provider Exolaunch for 10 satellites starting in 2027. Exolaunch arranges launches primarily on rideshare missions, such as SpaceX’s Transporter series.

“We have to expand the satellite constellation immediately, but the problem in the launch services market is the shortage of launch opportunities,” said Motoyuki Arai, Synspective’s founder and chief executive, at the Exolaunch signing ceremony in July. “It’s very tough to find the appropriate opportunities.”

Synspective has a goal of placing 30 synthetic aperture radar imaging satellites in orbit by 2030. The company says it is seeing strong demand for its radar imagery from the Japanese government and commercial customers.

Synspective went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December. The company reported in August revenue of 1.327 billion yen ($9 million) in the first half of 2025, a 28% increase from the same period in 2024. It had a net loss of 2.484 billion yen in the first half of 2025, nearly double the loss in the first half of 2024.

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Suborbital launch at 0028 UTC Oct 1st of Rocket Lab Electron HASTE with the "Justin" mission (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

1 comments fedilink

NextSpaceflight page: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7964/

Video livestream source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB9WfL31Ybs

Livestream clip from approximately Oct 1st 00:27:30 UTC to 00:29:30, sped up to 20 seconds duration (6X).

Unfortunately, RocketLab don't stream their suborbital HASTE Electron launches, so we're once again stuck with potato-quality video.

Previous mission: HASTE JENNA

Next mission: Owl New World

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Suborbital LAUNCH at 0000 UTC Sep 23 of Rocket Lab Electron HASTE with the JENNA hypersonic reentry test (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

1 comments fedilink

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3lzhnftfqn22f

Suborbital LAUNCH at 0000 UTC Sep 23 of Rocket Lab Electron HASTE with the JENNA military hypersonic reentry test from Wallops Island, Virginia; launch was visible from the DC area. Expected reentry over Atlantic circa 55W 30N

NextSpaceflight page: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7950

Video livestream source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB9WfL31Ybs

Livestream clip from approximately Sep 22nd 23:59 UTC to Sep 23 00:02, sped up to 20 seconds duration (9X).

Unfortunately, RocketLab don't stream their suborbital HASTE Electron launches, so we're stuck with potato-quality video.

Previous mission: Live, Laugh, Launch

Next mission: HASTE Justin

21

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Rocket Lab eyes Mars Telecommunications Orbiter as NASA revives mission concept - NASASpaceFlight.com (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 3 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

22

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New trailer for Neutron just dropped (www.youtube.com)

submitted 4 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

23

4

Rocket Lab inaugurates LC-3 at Wallops (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 4 months ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

0 comments fedilink

24

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Rocket Lab - Launch Complex 3 Official Opening (scheduled for 2025-08-28 14:00 UTC) (www.youtube.com)

submitted 4 months ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

1 comments fedilink

Not sure what this event will be, but I just noticed it on RocketLab's YouTube page.

Currently scheduled for 2025-08-28 10:00 local (EDT), 2025-08-28 14:00 UTC, and 2022-08-29 02:00 NZST.

25

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Rocket Lab "Live, Laugh, Launch" launch thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/rocketlab@lemmy.nz

7 comments fedilink

Live, Laugh, Launch

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-08-23 22:42 | |

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| Stream | Link | |

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Stats

12th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
70th overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

EchoStar Lyra-2

EchoStar Lyra Block 1 is a 4-satellite constellation that will deliver global Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine (M2M) and other data services. EchoStar will operate the constellation from its Australian subsidiary, EchoStar Global.

Previous mission: The Harvest Goddess Thrives

Next mission: HASTE JENNA

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively small community, so feedback is very valuable!