Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on August 20, carrying the QPS-SAR-18 satellite for the Japanese radar‑imaging company iQPS.

The mission, named “The Lightning God Defends,” placed the satellite into an orbit of 575 kilometers altitude with a 42‑degree inclination. The launch occurred at 9:04 a.m. Eastern time. iQPS confirmed contact with the satellite about 40 minutes after separation and said the spacecraft was operating as expected. This flight marked the ninth Electron launch for iQPS and the second consecutive mission for the company, following a launch on August 6.

The payload separated from the rocket’s kick stage roughly 50 minutes after liftoff. Rocket Lab has conducted 14 Electron launches in 2024, including three suborbital HASTE flights, and has completed 93 total Electron missions. The company said it expects to surpass its previous annual record of 21 Electron and HASTE launches.

Peter Beck, chief executive of Rocket Lab, said during an August 10 earnings call that Electron and HASTE continue to lead the small‑launch market and that the company is on track to beat last year’s launch tally. CFO Adam Spice noted that average selling prices for Electron have risen significantly over time, though specific figures have not been disclosed.

iQPS plans to operate a constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites, targeting 24 satellites by May 2028 and 26 by 2030. The repeated use of Electron for these launches reflects ongoing demand for its small‑payload capability, and the company has secured additional Electron launch contracts. The success of this mission supports Rocket Lab’s broader strategy of building experience that underpins development of its larger Neutron rocket, which has not yet flown.