Rocket Lab placed a new radar satellite for Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) into orbit, advancing its constellation and a launch partnership with eight more flights booked through 2030.
The Electron rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 11:41 a.m. EST on Nov. 2 (16:41 UTC), corresponding to 5:41 a.m. NZDT on Nov. 3, according to Rocket Lab’s mission page. The company lists the satellite in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 575 kilometers and an inclination of 42 degrees. Rocket Lab said that orbital path was chosen to let iQPS revisit areas across Asia-Pacific more frequently. The company reported a successful deployment.
iQPS identified the spacecraft in a prelaunch notice as QPS-SAR-20, named “WADATSUMI-II.” Rocket Lab counted the flight as Electron’s 99th and its own 20th mission of 2026. The company also called it its 10th Electron launch for iQPS and described the customer’s missions as having a 100% success rate.
Rocket Lab said eight further dedicated Electron launches for iQPS are booked through 2030, extending the companies’ launch relationship as the satellite operator expands its imaging network.
iQPS says its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites can collect imagery at night and in adverse weather. The company aims to have 24 satellites by May 2028 and deploy additional spacecraft by 2030. It is targeting average observation intervals of about 10 minutes over designated areas.
