Rocket Lab Successfully Launches for iQPS, Ends 2025 with 21 Launches and 100% Mission Success
Rhea-AI Summary
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed its final scheduled 2025 Electron launch on Dec 21, 2025, deploying QPS-SAR-15 for Japan-based iQPS and recording 21 Electron launches in 2025 with 100% mission success. The QPS-SAR-15 joins iQPS’s SAR constellation, expanding near-real time imagery across 12 orbits. Rocket Lab has now launched seven satellites for iQPS and cites five additional Electron launches planned from 2026. 'The Wisdom God Guides' was Electron mission F79 and the company's final scheduled launch for 2025; the next Electron launch is slated for early Q1 2026.
Positive
- 21 Electron launches completed in 2025
- 100% mission success for Electron in 2025
- Deployed QPS-SAR-15 to iQPS SAR constellation
- 7 satellites launched for iQPS to date
- 5 additional launches for iQPS planned from 2026
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, RKLB gained 9.97%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +5.9% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -2.1% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 92 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $3.80B to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $41.90B at that time. Trading volume was above average at 2.0x the daily average, suggesting increased trading activity.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
RKLB gained 17.69% while key aerospace peers like ESLT, CW, BWXT, TXT, and WWD showed more modest single-digit advances, indicating a primarily stock-specific move linked to company news and recent contract wins.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19 | Defense contract win | Positive | +17.7% | Awarded <b>$816M</b> prime contract for 18 SDA TRKT3 missile-detection satellites. |
| Dec 18 | Launch success | Positive | +11.1% | Successful STP-S30 mission for U.S. Department of War, 20th launch of 2025. |
| Dec 16 | Launch schedule move-up | Positive | +0.1% | Accelerated STP-S30 launch to Dec 18, demonstrating schedule agility and responsiveness. |
| Dec 13 | International launch success | Positive | -9.9% | First dedicated JAXA mission successfully launched, 19th 2025 Electron mission. |
| Dec 09 | Launch rescheduling | Positive | +3.6% | Brought forward KAIST Earth observation launch, surpassing 2024 mission tally. |
Positive execution and contract wins often align with strong upside moves, though there has been at least one notable divergence on positive launch news.
Over the past weeks, Rocket Lab reported a series of positive developments, including an $816M U.S. Space Development Agency contract on Dec 19, 2025 and multiple successful Electron missions for U.S., Japanese, and Korean customers. These events expanded its role in missile detection, national security, and international civil space. The current record-setting 21st launch of 2025 builds directly on this momentum, reinforcing Electron’s reliability and the company’s growing backlog and customer base.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +10.0% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Rocket Lab’s recent string of execution wins. The company set a record with 21 Electron launches in 2025 and reported 100% mission success, reinforcing its position in small-lift launch. Prior news, such as the $816M missile-detection constellation award, also drew sizeable gains. Investors evaluating sustainability might watch for how consistently this elevated launch cadence converts into long-term revenue and margin performance.
Key Terms
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technical
hypersonic technology technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
MAHIA, New Zealand, Dec. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 21st Electron rocket of the year to deploy the latest satellite to space for multi-launch customer Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company.
‘The Wisdom God Guides’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on December 21 at 7:36 p.m. (06:36 UTC) to deploy the QPS-SAR-15 to space for iQPS. The spacecraft will join the company’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation providing near-real time imagery across twelve different orbits for iQPS’ global customers. Rocket Lab first launched for iQPS in 2023 and has gone on to deploy seven satellites to the iQPS constellation, making Electron the primary launcher for iQPS. A further five launches on Electron for iQPS are planned from 2026.
Today’s mission has set a new annual launch record for Electron: 21 launches in one year with
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Congratulations to iQPS on this latest successful mission for their constellation, and to the Rocket Lab team on a fantastic record-setting year of Electron launches. Electron makes frequent and reliable launch look easy as it outpaces all other American small-lift orbital rockets, year after year. In 2026, we’re expanding Electron’s global reach with more multi-launch constellation deployments, dedicated missions for domestic civil space and international space agencies in Japan and Europe, and both suborbital and orbital launches with defense applications for hypersonic technology and national security. Our new record of annual launches and the breadth of upcoming missions go to show how much of a global impact Electron continues to have on the space industry, and we’re looking forward to another year of continued execution in 2026.”
‘The Wisdom God Guides’ mission was Rocket Lab’s 79th overall Electron mission and final scheduled launch for 2025. The next Electron launch is slated to take place in early Q1 2026.
‘The Wisdom God Guides’ launch images: F79 | The Wisdom God Guides
‘The Wisdom God Guides’ launch broadcast: Rocket Lab - ‘The Wisdom God Guides’ Launch
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.
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) accomplish on Dec 21, 2025?
How many Electron launches did Rocket Lab complete in 2025 and what was the success rate?
How many satellites has Rocket Lab launched for iQPS through Dec 21, 2025 (RKLB)?
What are Rocket Lab’s (RKLB) near-term launch plans after Dec 21, 2025?
What role does Electron play for iQPS following the Dec 21, 2025 mission?
Which markets or uses did Rocket Lab highlight for Electron in 2026?
