Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (โRocket Labโ or โthe Companyโ), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 69th Electron mission and deployed the latest satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) - Rocket Labโs fifth dedicated mission in a multi-launch contract to build their constellation in low Earth orbit.
โThe Harvest Goddess Thrivesโ mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 04:10 UTC on August 5th. Electron deployed a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite named QPS-SAR-12 (nicknamed KUSHINADA-I for the Japanese goddess of harvest and agriculture) to a 575km circular Earth orbit. It was Rocket Labโs fourth launch this year for iQPS and fifth mission overall, making Electron the most prolific launcher of their constellation to date. Four more dedicated iQPS missions are scheduled to launch on Electron through the remainder of this year and in 2026.
Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: โEvery Electron launch is a demonstration of payload deployment precision for our customers โ an especially critical element when scaling satellite constellations. Todayโs fifth and flawless deployment for iQPS once again underscores Electronโs reliability and continues to prove that consistent tailored access to space is a reality on Electron for our customers.โ
iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: โBuilding a satellite constellation requires both timely development and manufacturing, as well as highly precise launch execution. We are deeply grateful to both our team and the Rocket Lab team for their continued dedication in making this possible. As the number of satellites increases, so too does the frequency and value of the data we are able to provide. We will continue to accelerate our efforts to ensure that our satellite data can be leveraged in even more fields and applications.โ
โThe Harvest Goddess Thrivesโ marks Rocket Labโs 11th Electron mission of 2025 and its 69th launch overall. Details of the next Electron launch will be shared in the coming days.
Launch images: F69 | The Harvest Goddess Thrives | Flickr
Launch webcast: Rocket Lab - 'The Harvest Goddess Thrives' Launch
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 spacecraft platforms, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Labโs Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered over 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 Labโs spacecraft platforms have 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.
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 โSecurities Actโ) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the โExchange Actโ). 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 โbelieve,โ โmay,โ โwill,โ โestimate,โ โpotential,โ โcontinue,โ โanticipate,โ โintend,โ โexpect,โ โstrategy,โ โfuture,โ โcould,โ โwould,โ โproject,โ โplan,โ โtarget,โ 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 โSECโ), accessible on the SECโs 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 managementโs 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/20250804456767/en/
Contacts
Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
