Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, successfully launched its Electron rocket to deploy the next QPS-SAR Earth-imaging satellite to space for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).
‘The Sea God Surveys’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 5:41 a.m. NZDT on November 3, 2026, to deploy the ‘WADATSUMI-II’ synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite to a 575km low Earth orbit. The satellite was delivered on an inclination tailored specifically to optimize iQPS’s revisit rates over the Asia-Pacific region, enabling iQPS to develop and deploy its constellation at a rapid pace to provide high resolution and near-real time SAR imagery to its global users.
Mission Highlights:
Milestone Century In Sight: This was the 99th flight of Electron and Rocket Lab’s 20th mission of 2026, solidifying the rocket’s status as the most frequently launched commercial small rocket in the world.
iQPS Partnership: As the tenth consecutive launch for iQPS with 100% mission success, “The Sea God Surveys” highlights Electron’s industry leadership in providing satellite operators with choice for how and when to scale their constellations without compromise.
More Missions: Today’s launch deepens Rocket Lab's expansive multi-launch partnership with iQPS, with eight more dedicated Electron launches booked to complete their SAR constellation by 2030.