Electron • ‘The Lightning God Reigns’

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched the latest synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Earth-imaging satellite on behalf of Japan-based company, iQPS. This was the first of an eight-launch contract with iQPS that spans 2025 and 2026. The satellite, dubbed QPS-SAR-9 or ‘Susanoo-1,’ headed into a circular, low Earth orbit at 575 km in altitude at an inclination of 42 degrees. Rocket Lab did not attempt to recover the first stage booster on this mission. Delayed from March 9/10.