Rocket Lab returns to flight with Japanese observation satellite

Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket late Thursday evening after a couple months break after suffering a failure in September. The successful launch deployed a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, iQPS.

Rocket Lab returns to flight

Lifting off at 11:05 P.M. last Thursday, Rocket Lab’s latest Electron flight brings success back to a rocket that has seen a lot of it. If you include the failed mission in September, this was the company’s 10th mission for 2023, its first double digit year since it was founded in 2006.

On top of this important mission for the launcher was an equally important satellite for the Japanese company iQPS. The QPS-SAR-5 satellite, also known as TSUKUYOMI-I, named after the god of the Moon in Japanese mythology.

As the name implies, this was iQPS’ fifth satellite, however, this specific satellite will be its first operational mission in orbit. The first two satellites were prototypes that flew on ISRO and SpaceX rideshare missions in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

The third and fourth satellites came to a untimely demise on a failed Japanese Epsilon 2 rocket launch in 2022.

For number five, it had a smooth ride to space. With only a single short countdown hold, Electron lifted the roughly 100 kg payload into an orbit around Earth. Rocket Lab’s Curie kick stage did the rest of the lifting to get it to the mission’s exact specifications.

An overall major success for both companies.

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Once again #2 for the US launch market

With two weeks left in the year, this is most likely the last mission for Rocket Lab in 2023. Totally nine successful launches, tying 2022’s stat, another solid year for a company that is working in a very limited and unforgiving market.

Rocket Lab can once again claim the title as the second most launched rocket from the United States, of course behind SpaceX. It’s always weird saying that since only three Electrons used Pad B in Virginia.

Looking ahead to Rocket Lab’s 2024 launch projections, this could be a breakout year for the company. The launcher expects to launch as many as 22 Electron rockets with five lined up for the first quarter.

Neutron development is also in full swing and we could see that program come to life next year. Although with any rocket developments, timelines are fluid.

However, in future years that #2 title could move to a new holder. ULA plans to eventually pick up to a cadence of one launch every two weeks with Vulcan. It’s yet to be known what sort of cadences other up and coming launchers like Blue Origin, Relativity, and Firefly could achieve. But the growing competition could lead to an interesting turn out for a market that has only ever known monopolies.