MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab Launches 96th Electron Mission

Rocket Lab’s 96th Electron mission adds Synspective’s 12th StriX SAR satellite to orbit, maintaining a stated 100% partnership success rate.

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (RKLB) successfully launched Synspective’s latest StriX synthetic aperture radar Earth‑observation satellite on the ‘Owl By The Dozen’ mission from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 3:22pm NZST on September 19, 2026.

The Electron rocket delivered Synspective’s 12th StriX satellite into a precise 572 km low Earth orbit. The flight represents Rocket Lab’s 96th Electron mission, its 17th launch of 2026, and continues a 100% mission success record across its multi‑year launch partnership with Synspective.

News Explained

Beyond the completed launch, Rocket Lab says 15 additional dedicated Electron missions are manifested through the end of the decade for Synspective, creating a disclosed multi-year launch commitment but not a completed set of flights.

Market Context

The Sep 02 Synspective launch had a recorded 0.88% 24-hour price reaction, directly matching this an...

Analysis

The Sep 02 Synspective launch had a recorded 0.88% 24-hour price reaction, directly matching this announcement's customer and constellation program. The Sep 11 Electron launch recorded 1.6%.

Key Figures

Electron flight count: 96th flight 2026 launches: 17 launches Orbital altitude: 572km +3 more

Electron flight count

96th flight

Rocket Lab Electron program

2026 launches

17 launches

Completed so far in 2026

Orbital altitude

572km

Exact low Earth orbit for Synspective's StriX satellite

StriX satellite sequence

12th satellite

Synspective Earth-monitoring constellation

Mission success record

100%

Rocket Lab's multi-year launch partnership with Synspective

Additional manifested missions

15 missions

Dedicated Electron missions through the end of the decade

Historical Context

2 past events · Latest: Sep 11

2 events

1. Sep 11

   Electron launch

   24h Move

   +0.9%

   Rocket Lab completed its 16th Electron launch of 2026 for a confidential customer.

2. Sep 02

   Synspective launch

   24h Move

   +0.9%

   Rocket Lab deployed Synspective's latest StriX satellite and maintained its success record.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

synthetic aperture radar, low earth orbit

2 terms

synthetic aperture radar technical

"for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) company, Synspective"

Synthetic aperture radar is a remote-sensing system that uses radio waves sent from a moving platform (like a satellite or aircraft) to build detailed images of the ground, day or night and through clouds—think of sweeping a flashlight across a scene to assemble a clear picture. For investors, it provides independent, timely evidence of real-world activity (ship movements, construction, crop conditions, infrastructure changes), helping verify company statements, track risks and spot opportunities without relying on visible light.

low earth orbit technical

"directly into an exact 572km low Earth orbit"

Low Earth orbit (LEO) is the region of space close to Earth, roughly from about 160 to 2,000 kilometers above the surface, where satellites and spacecraft circle the planet quickly—think of it as a busy highway just overhead. It matters to investors because many communications, imaging and data services rely on satellites in LEO; their shorter lifespans, lower launch costs, crowded lanes and debris risks directly affect the cost, revenue potential and operational risks of companies that build, launch or use these satellites.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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MAHIA, New Zealand, Sept. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched the latest Earth-observation satellite to space for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) company, Synspective.

The ‘Owl By The Dozen’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 3:22pm NZST on September 19, 2026 and delivered the 12^th StriX satellite directly into an exact 572km low Earth orbit for Synspective’s Earth-monitoring constellation.

The launch marks Rocket Lab’s 96th Electron flight and its 17th launch of 2026, underscoring Electron's unmatched operational cadence in commercial small-lift launch globally. This mission also extends Rocket Lab’s 100% mission success record across its multi-year launch partnership with Synspective.

Mission Highlights:

• Global Launch Leadership: With 17 launches completed so far in 2026, Electron continues to lead the global commercial small-lift sector in frequency and reliability.
• Pinpoint Orbital Accuracy: Electron’s Kick Stage placed the StriX satellite into its 572km orbit with pinpoint accuracy, maximizing on-orbit lifetime and supporting immediate integration of this latest satellite into Synspective’s constellation.
• Constellation Expansion: Rocket Lab has 15 additional dedicated Electron missions manifested through the end of the decade to complete Synspective's commercial SAR constellation.
  

‘Owl By The Dozen’ launch images: click here

‘Owl By The Dozen’ launch broadcast: click here

Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com

About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) is an end-to-end space company delivering rockets, satellites, and spacecraft components for commercial, government, and defense missions. Driven by its industry-leading small-lift rockets Electron and HASTE and its upcoming reusable Neutron medium-lift rocket, Rocket Lab delivers reliable and responsive launch for the world’s most important missions from constellation deployment to missile defense. Rocket Lab’s satellites and components have powered more than 1,700 missions in Earth orbit, as well as deep-space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at  https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.