Rocket Lab Signs Multi-色花堂 Contract with iQPS for Four Electron Missions
Long Beach, Calif. February 3rd, 2025 鈥 色花堂, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (鈥淩ocket Lab鈥 or 鈥渢he Company鈥), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has signed a multi-launch deal with Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company.
The multi-launch contract, signed in July 2024, includes three dedicated missions for launch in 2025 from Rocket Lab 色花堂 Complex 1 in New Zealand, with a fourth launch scheduled for 2026. Each mission will carry a single satellite to form part of iQPS鈥 planned constellation of 36 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites that are capable of collecting images through cloud and at night with a high resolution of less than a meter.
This multi-launch contract follows Rocket Lab鈥檚 deployment of iQPS鈥 second commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite to space, QPS-SAR-5, during an Electron launch in December 2023. The mission was an expedited launch for iQPS that took place within four months of the launch contract鈥檚 announcement, after their original launch provider could not meet iQPS鈥 mission requirements. In addition to launching on Electron, all iQPS satellites will use a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband as its separation system for deployment to space.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: 鈥淎 constellation鈥檚 success relies on spacecraft being deployed to precise orbits on tailored timelines to maximize the data collection or service provision the customer needs for their end users. This is the unique and reliable service that dedicated launch on Electron delivers. It鈥檚 a privilege to be entrusted with the next batch of iQPS satellites and we look forward to helping them build out the next stage of their constellation.鈥
iQPS CEO Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: 鈥淲e are excited to announce our collaboration with Rocket Lab for four upcoming missions. Building on the successful launch of QPS-SAR-5 鈥淭SUKUYOMI-I鈥 in December 2023, this partnership marks another significant milestone in our project. We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in this project - our dedicated team and Rocket Lab - for their commitment and hard work to this contract. As we accelerate the manufacturing and launch of QPS-SAR satellites to build a constellation, we are confident that Rocket Lab is the trusted partner for this purpose and will make our plans even more solid.鈥
Rocket Lab has emerged as a leading launch provider for Japanese and South Korean space users, having launched Electron missions for Earth-observation constellation operators in the region and technology demonstrations. These missions include the previously-launched iQPS mission in December 2023; a mission for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in April 2024; a launch for Astroscale-Japan in February 2024 that successfully deployed a technology demonstrator for the first phase of Astroscale-Japan鈥檚 orbital debris removal program; and six out of 16 missions on Electron for Japan-based Synspective, for whom Rocket Lab is their sole launch provider to deploy their constellation.
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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 flight-proven spacecraft, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab鈥檚 Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 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 Lab鈥檚 Photon spacecraft platform has 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. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
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