Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has completed its 69th Electron launch, successfully deploying another satellite for Japan-based Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) as part of their expanding Earth observation constellation. The mission lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 04:10 UTC on August 5, deploying the QPS-SAR-12 satellite into a 575 km circular orbit.
The satellite, nicknamed “KUSHINADA-I”, is the twelfth in the QPS-SAR synthetic aperture radar (SAR) series and marks Rocket Lab’s fifth dedicated mission for iQPS. Rocket Lab has four more iQPS launches already on the manifest for late 2025 and 2026.
The launch is Rocket Lab’s fourth for iQPS this year alone, reinforcing its cadence and reliability in the small satellite market. With tailored orbit insertion and rapid turnaround capabilities, Electron enables iQPS to accelerate its constellation deployment and increase the frequency and availability of radar data for applications across agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and disaster response.
The Harvest Goddess Thrives mission also marked Rocket Lab’s 11th launch of 2025, continuing a robust campaign for the year with more missions already in queue. The Company plans to announce its next launch in the coming days.
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