this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2025
3 points (100.0% liked)

Rocket Lab

203 readers
3 users here now

A community for discussing Rocket Lab, the US/New Zealand aerospace company. All posts related to Rocket Lab are welcome.

Other space and rocket related communities:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The Nation God Navigates

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


|


| | Scheduled for (NZDT) | 2025-11-06 08:51 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customer | iQPS | | Payload | QPS-SAR-14 | | Mass | 100 kg | | Target orbit | Low Earth Orbit |

| Stream | Link | |


|


| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8OCzwJtMg | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN6nb_lf17c | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ-tDAmZyE8 |

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!

top 7 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old

SECO, Curie kickstage separation, and nominal transfer orbit confirmed.

Curie engine ignition scheduled for T+49:25.

Battery hotswap confirmed.

MECO, stage separation, Rutherford vacuum engine ignition, and fairing jettison confirmed.

Webcast is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8OCzwJtMg

Sam Pieters (Learning & Development Advisor) and Jess Hepworth (GNC Engineer) are hosting.

Go no-go poll is complete, they are go for launch.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Nominal Curie engine burn, target orbit achieved, and payload separation confirmed!