Electron Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com/tag/electron/ Covering the business and politics of space Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:48:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Electron Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com/tag/electron/ 32 32 80681979 Rocket Lab wins contract for three more iQPS launches https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-contract-for-three-more-iqps-launches/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-contract-for-three-more-iqps-launches/#respond Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:43:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=586032 Electron launch

Rocket Lab has won a contract from Japanese radar satellite company iQPS for three additional Electron launches.

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Rocket Lab launches eighth Synspective radar imaging satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-eighth-synspective-radar-imaging-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-eighth-synspective-radar-imaging-satellite/#respond Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:15:03 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=580570 Electron launch

Rocket Lab launched the latest in a series of satellites for Japanese radar imaging company Synspective on March 20.

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Rocket Lab launches satellite for undisclosed customer https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-satellite-for-undisclosed-customer/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-satellite-for-undisclosed-customer/#respond Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:45:10 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=577817 Electron launch

Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft March 5 for a confidential customer, most likely Earth observation company BlackSky.

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Rocket Lab delays Neutron debut to late 2026 https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-delays-neutron-debut-to-late-2026/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-delays-neutron-debut-to-late-2026/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:53:07 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=576324

The failure of a propellant tank during testing in January will delay the first launch of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket to at least the fourth quarter of this year.

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Rocket Lab launches South Korean satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-south-korean-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-south-korean-satellite/#respond Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:01:41 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=569480 Electron launch of NEONSAT-1A

A Rocket Lab Electron launched a South Korean imaging satellite Jan. 29 on the rocket’s second flight of the year.

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Rocket Lab launches first satellites for Open Cosmos constellation https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-first-satellites-for-open-cosmos-constellation/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-first-satellites-for-open-cosmos-constellation/#respond Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:53:58 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568544 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron launched the first satellites for a new constellation being developed by Open Cosmos that will use spectrum previously assigned to Rivada Space Networks.

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Rocket Lab wraps up record launch year https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wraps-up-record-launch-year/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wraps-up-record-launch-year/#respond Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:30:47 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=565301 Electron launch

Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese radar imaging satellite Dec. 21 in the final flight of a record-setting year for the company.

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Rocket Lab launches JAXA tech demo satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-jaxa-tech-demo-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-jaxa-tech-demo-satellite/#respond Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:34:01 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=564456 Electron launch of RAISE-4

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully launched a technology demonstration satellite for JAXA Dec. 13 as the company reshuffles its launch manifest.

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BlackSky announces latest Gen-3 satellite in orbit after confidential Electron launch https://spacenews.com/blacksky-announces-latest-gen-3-satellite-in-orbit-after-confidential-electron-launch/ https://spacenews.com/blacksky-announces-latest-gen-3-satellite-in-orbit-after-confidential-electron-launch/#respond Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:30:02 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=561432 Gen 3 3rd sat first image

Earth observation company BlackSky was the confidential customer for the latest Rocket Lab launch, placing into orbit a satellite that has already returned its first images.

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Electron launches confidential commercial satellite https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-confidential-commercial-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-confidential-commercial-satellite/#respond Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:46:58 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=561083 Electron launch

Rocket Lab launched a payload for an undisclosed commercial customer Nov. 20, just hours after the company announced plans for the launch.

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Rocket Lab launches sixth iQPS satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-sixth-iqps-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-sixth-iqps-satellite/#respond Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:25:39 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=559347 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS on Nov. 5.

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Rocket Lab launches seventh Synspective radar imaging satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-seventh-synspective-radar-imaging-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-seventh-synspective-radar-imaging-satellite/#respond Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:25:57 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=556418 Electron launch of Synspective satellite

Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft for one Japanese radar imaging company Oct. 14, just days after signing a contract for additional launches for another.

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JAXA to launch tech demo satellites on Electron rockets https://spacenews.com/jaxa-to-launch-tech-demo-satellites-on-electron-rockets/ https://spacenews.com/jaxa-to-launch-tech-demo-satellites-on-electron-rockets/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:52:25 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=556154 Electron launch

The Japanese space agency JAXA has selected Rocket Lab to launch a set of technology demonstration satellites on Electron rockets after continued delays with a Japanese launch vehicle.

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Synspective purchases 10 additional Electron launches https://spacenews.com/synspective-purchases-10-additional-electron-launches/ https://spacenews.com/synspective-purchases-10-additional-electron-launches/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:16:38 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=554627 Synspective Rocket Lab

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

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Rocket Lab launches five satellites for undisclosed commercial customer https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-five-satellites-for-undisclosed-commercial-customer/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-five-satellites-for-undisclosed-commercial-customer/#respond Sun, 24 Aug 2025 14:02:02 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=546630 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron placed five satellites for an undisclosed commercial customer into orbit Aug. 23.

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Rocket Lab launches iQPS radar imaging satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-iqps-radar-imaging-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-iqps-radar-imaging-satellite/#respond Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:19:18 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=539495 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron launched the latest in a series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellites for a Japanese company Aug. 5.

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Rocket Lab launches second Electron within 48 hours https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-second-electron-within-48-hours/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-second-electron-within-48-hours/#respond Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:13:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519977 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron placed an undisclosed satellite into orbit June 28 on the company’s second launch within 48 hours and fourth this month.

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Rocket Lab launches HawkEye 360 satellites https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-hawkeye-360-satellites/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-hawkeye-360-satellites/#respond Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:45:51 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519958 Electron launch June 26 2025

Rocket Lab launched a set of satellites for HawkEye 360 June 26 in the first of back-to-back launches from its New Zealand launch site.

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Rocket Lab to launch European navigation tech demo satellites https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-european-navigation-tech-demo-satellites/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-european-navigation-tech-demo-satellites/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:18:28 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519741 LEO-PNT pathfinder satellites

Rocket Lab will launch a pair of European navigation technology demonstration satellites, as Europe again is forced to look outside the continent for launch services.

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Electron launches third iQPS satellite in three months https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-third-iqps-satellite-in-three-months/ https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-third-iqps-satellite-in-three-months/#respond Wed, 11 Jun 2025 21:33:24 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519169 Electron iQPS launch

Rocket Lab launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS June 11, the third launch for that customer within three months.

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Rocket Lab launches BlackSky satellite https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-blacksky-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-blacksky-satellite/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:30:09 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=518657 Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron successfully placed a BlackSky high-resolution imaging satellite into orbit on a June 2 launch.

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Rocket Lab launches radar imaging satellite for iQPS https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-radar-imaging-satellite-for-iqps/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-radar-imaging-satellite-for-iqps/#respond Sat, 17 May 2025 13:52:09 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=517802 Electron launch

Rocket Lab launched the latest in a series of radar imaging satellites for a Japanese company May 17.

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Rocket Lab to launch NASA astrophysics smallsat mission https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-nasa-astrophysics-smallsat-mission/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-nasa-astrophysics-smallsat-mission/#respond Wed, 14 May 2025 22:42:50 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=517551 Electron launch of PREFIRE-2

NASA selected Rocket Lab to launch a small NASA astrophysics spacecraft that will study galaxies at ultraviolet wavelengths.

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Rocket Lab sees demand for Electron despite rideshare competition https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-sees-demand-for-electron-despite-rideshare-competition/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-sees-demand-for-electron-despite-rideshare-competition/#respond Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=516064 Rocket Lab final Kinéis launch

COLORADO SPRINGS — Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said his company has found a successful market providing dedicated launches for small satellites — a strategy that he said does not […]

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