ORLANDO, Fla. — A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS on Nov. 5.
The Electron lifted off from Pad B of Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 2:51 p.m. Eastern time. The payload, a satellite called QPS-SAR-14, deployed from the Electron kick stage 50 minutes later into a 575-kilometer orbit at an inclination of 42 degrees.
The satellite, also known as Yachihoko-I, made contact with controllers 35 minutes after deployment and later unfurled a parabolic antenna for its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload, iQPS stated.
This was the sixth iQPS satellite launched on Electron, including five this year. Six more are scheduled to launch on Electron, including three under a contract announced last month. Several iQPS satellites have also launched on SpaceX rideshare missions.
“This milestone reflects the steady advancement of our technology and the growth of our team,” said Shunsuke Onishi, chief executive of iQPS, in a statement. “With this success, we move closer to realizing our vision of near real-time Earth observation and delivering greater value to society.”
“This latest mission for iQPS once again demonstrates the pinpoint accuracy our customers depend on to grow their constellations, and we’re grateful to the iQPS team for trusting us with their launch needs,” said Peter Beck, chief executive of Rocket Lab. “With six seamless deployments for iQPS in the books, Electron is ready for the next six.”
The launch was the 16th Electron mission this year, including two flights of the suborbital version of Electron, known as HASTE. That matches the total number of Electron launches in 2024, with several more expected before the end of this year.
Rocket Lab is scheduled to report its third-quarter financial results after markets close Nov. 10.
