Rocket Lab Secures Latest Multi-Launch Contract with iQPS for Three Dedicated Electron Missions
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) signed a multi-launch contract with Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) for three additional dedicated Electron missions, bringing iQPS’s booked Electron launches to seven. The missions are scheduled to launch no earlier than 2026 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Each mission will deploy a single SAR satellite using Rocket Lab’s Motorized Lightband separation system, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s vertical integration across launch and space systems. Rocket Lab says it increased production and cadence to meet demand for 20+ launches in 2025. The next iQPS launch is scheduled for November 2025, with further details to follow.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) ha firmato un contratto di più lanci con l'Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) per tre ulteriori missioni Electron dedicate, portando i lanci Electron prenotati da iQPS a sette. Le missioni sono previste per partire non prima del 2026 dal Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Nuova Zelanda.
Ogni missione disporrà di un singolo satellite SAR utilizzando il sistema di separazione Motorized Lightband di Rocket Lab, dimostrando l'integrazione verticale di Rocket Lab tra sistemi di lancio e spazio. Rocket Lab afferma di aver aumentato la produzione e il ritmo per soddisfare la domanda di 20+ lanci nel 2025. Il prossimo lancio iQPS è previsto per novembre 2025, con ulteriori dettagli a seguire.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) firmó un contrato de múltiples lanzamientos con el Instituto para los Pioneros del Espacio Q-shu (iQPS) por tres misiones Electron adicionales dedicadas, llevando los lanzamientos Electron reservados por iQPS a siete. Las misiones están programadas para lanzarse a partir de 2026 desde Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 en Nueva Zelanda.
Cada misión desplegará un único satélite SAR usando el sistema de separación Motorized Lightband de Rocket Lab, demostrando la integración vertical de Rocket Lab entre sistemas de lanzamiento y espacio. Rocket Lab afirma haber aumentado la producción y el ritmo para satisfacer la demanda de 20+ lanzamientos en 2025. El próximo lanzamiento de iQPS está programado para noviembre de 2025, con más detalles a seguir.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB)는 뉴질랜드의 Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1에서 세 개의 추가 전용 Electron 임무를 위해 iQPS(Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space)와 다중 발사 계약을 체결했습니다. 이로써 iQPS의 예약된 Electron 발사는 일곱 개가 됩니다. 이 임무들은 2026년 이후에 가장 이르게 시작되며, 뉴질랜드의 Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1에서 발사될 예정입니다.
각 임무는 SAR 위성을 Rocket Lab의 Motorized Lightband 분리 시스템을 사용해 배치하며, 로켓 발사와 우주 시스템 간의 수직적 통합을 입증합니다. Rocket Lab은 2025년에 20회 이상 발사를 충족하기 위해 생산과 속도를 늘렸다고 말합니다. 차기 iQPS 발사는 2025년 11월로 예정되어 있으며, 추가 세부정보는 추후 발표됩니다.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) a signé un contrat de multi-lancements avec l'Institut des Pionniers Q-shu de l'Espace (iQPS) pour trois missions Electron supplémentaires dédiées, portant le nombre total de lancements Electron réservés par iQPS à sept. Les missions devraient être lancées au plus tard en 2026 au plus tôt depuis Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 en Nouvelle-Zélande.
Chaque mission déploiera un seul satellite SAR en utilisant le système de séparation Motorized Lightband de Rocket Lab, démontrant l'intégration verticale de Rocket Lab entre les systèmes de lancement et spatiaux. Rocket Lab indique avoir augmenté la production et le rythme pour répondre à la demande de 20+lancements en 2025. Le prochain lancement iQPS est prévu pour novembre 2025, avec plus de détails à suivre.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) hat einen Mehrfachstart-Vertrag mit dem Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) für drei weitere dedizierte Electron-Missionen unterzeichnet, wodurch iQPSs gebuchte Electron-Läufe auf sieben steigen. Die Missionen sollen frühestens 2026 vom Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Neuseeland starten.
Jede Mission wird ein einzelnes SAR-Satelliten einsetzen, mithilfe des Motorized Lightband-Trennsystems von Rocket Lab, und demonstriert Rocket Labs vertikale Integration über Start- und Raumfahrtsysteme hinweg. Rocket Lab sagt, die Produktion und den Rhythmus erhöht zu haben, um der Nachfrage nach 20+ Starts in 2025 gerecht zu werden. Der nächste iQPS-Start ist für November 2025 vorgesehen, weitere Details folgen.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) وقّعت عقداً متعدد الإطلاق مع معهد روّاد Q-shu للفضاء (iQPS) لـ ثلاث مهام Electron إضافية مخصّصة، ليصل عدد إطلاقات Electron المحجوزة لدى iQPS إلى سبعة. من المقرّر أن تُطلق هذه المهمات في 2026 أو بعده من Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 في نيوزيلندا.
كل مهمة ستطلق على متنها قمرًا صناعيًا واحدًا من فئة SAR باستخدام نظام الفصل Motorized Lightband من Rocket Lab، مما يعرض التكامل الرأسي للشركة بين أنظمة الإطلاق والفضاء. تقول Rocket Lab إنها زادت الإنتاج وتيرة العمل لتلبية الطلب على أكثر من 20 إطلاقًا في 2025. الإطلاق التالي لـ iQPS مقرر في نوفمبر 2025، وسيتم الكشف عن تفاصيل إضافية لاحقًا.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) 与 Q-shu 太空先驱研究所（iQPS）签署了一份多次发射合同，涉及 三次额外的专用 Electron 任务，使 iQPS 预订的 Electron 发射总数达到 七次。这些任务计划在 2026 年 及以后从新西兰的 Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 发射。
每次任务将部署一个单独的 SAR 卫星，使用 Rocket Lab 的 Motorized Lightband 分离系统，展示 Rocket Lab 在发射与太空系统之间的垂直整合。Rocket Lab 表示为满足 2025 年 >20 次发射 的需求，已提高产能与节奏。下一个 iQPS 发射计划于 2025 年 11 月，更多细节将随后公布。
- Three additional dedicated Electron missions contracted
- Total upcoming iQPS Electron launches increased to seven
- Launches scheduled no earlier than 2026 from New Zealand
- Each launch deploys one SAR satellite via Motorized Lightband
- Production ramping to support 20+ launches in 2025
- None.
Insights
Repeat multi-launch win expands Rocket Lab's Electron backlog and validates vertical integration with iQPS.
Rocket Lab secures three additional dedicated Electron missions to deploy iQPS's SAR satellites, bringing iQPS's booked launches to seven and reinforcing Rocket Lab's role as primary launch provider. The deals use Rocket Lab's Motorized Lightband separation system, showing the company bundles launch and deployment hardware to shorten customer timelines and reduce integration steps.
Delivery depends on sustained launch cadence and production throughput as Rocket Lab targets increased activity in
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LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has signed another multi-launch deal with Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) – making Rocket Lab the primary launch provider to deploy the company’s commercial Earth-imaging constellation.
The multi-launch contract includes three dedicated Electron missions that will launch no earlier than 2026 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. With four dedicated missions already booked by iQPS on Electron, these three additional missions bring the total number of upcoming launches for iQPS to seven.
Each dedicated launch will deploy a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite from a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband separation system – demonstrating Rocket Lab’s vertical integration across launch and space systems that improves reliability and streamlines the launch process for its customers.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “We’re proud to be expanding our partnership with iQPS to deliver their QPS-SAR satellites to orbit. By choosing both Electron and our separation systems to deploy their satellites, iQPS takes advantage of a highly-integrated launch service that maximizes reliability and streamlines operations for faster access to space to grow their constellation. It’s a privilege to continue to deliver this for iQPS across our missions to date and the ones to come.”
iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: “In 2025, we successfully deployed four satellites, QPS-SAR-9 through QPS-SAR-12, into their planned orbits aboard Electron. This outcome was exactly as we had anticipated, and it further reaffirmed our confidence in the rocket’s reliability. We are very pleased to have now signed an additional contract for the launch of three more satellites on Electron. This agreement marks an important step toward the realization of our QPS-SAR constellation. We will continue to make steady progress with unwavering dedication to achieving this goal.”
As international orders for Electron’s responsive launch service continue to grow, Rocket Lab has increased its production and launch cadence to meet the demand for 20+ launches in 2025. Rocket Lab has successfully launched four missions for iQPS to date this year, including two missions launched back-to-back in less than four weeks between May and June.
Rocket Lab’s next launch for iQPS is scheduled to take place from November. Further information about the launch will be announced in the coming days.
Rocket Lab Images and Videos: www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlab/
Rocket Lab Media contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a leading space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket; its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations; and its Neutron launch vehicle in development will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security missions including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange (RKLB). Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.
About iQPS
iQPS is a space start-up founded in 2005 by two Emeritus Professors of Kyushu University and a rocket developer to establish the space industry in the Kyushu region in Japan. Based on more than 20 years of technology in the development of small satellites at Kyushu University, now iQPS brings together young engineers and industrialists with a team of pioneering professors emeritus. In addition, iQPS’s business is strongly supported by more than 25 partner companies, mostly in northern Kyushu. https://i-qps.net/en
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, 2024, 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.
FAQ
What did Rocket Lab (RKLB) announce about new launches for iQPS on October 7, 2025?
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