Rocket Lab Books Three More Electron Launches for Japan's iQPS, Third Deal in Under a Year

Rocket Lab has signed a multi-launch contract with the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) for three new dedicated Electron missions, the company announced July 30. The agreement marks the third multi-launch booking on Electron by iQPS in less than a year and brings the total number of launches booked by the Japanese operator to 18.

The contract continues iQPS' build out of its Earth-imaging constellation using synthetic aperture radar, a technology that creates images from radio wave measurements and allows data collection at any time of day and under any weather conditions. Rocket Lab has served as iQPS' primary launch provider since 2023.

The three new dedicated launches are scheduled to take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 beginning in late 2027. Each mission will deploy a single QPS-SAR satellite to a 575 kilometer low Earth orbit. iQPS has also purchased Rocket Lab's own satellite separation system, the Motorized Lightband, for all of its missions, which Rocket Lab said streamlines the company's access to space with reduced scheduling risk.

Electron has already deployed seven QPS-SAR satellites with 100 percent mission success since 2023. Rocket Lab described the task of placing satellites within a constellation already on orbit as exactly the challenge Electron was created to solve, citing the vehicle's precision in reaching target orbits. The company said the latest deal provides iQPS with the security of regular launch slots as demand for Electron launches reaches record levels.

Rocket Lab said the booking further solidifies Electron's position as the world's most sought-after small-lift launch vehicle. Three multi-launch bookings from a single customer inside twelve months signals sustained customer confidence, with iQPS providing iQPS with regular, reliable access to space for its expanding constellation.

The three new missions are scheduled to begin from Launch Complex 1 in late 2027, each carrying a single QPS-SAR satellite to build out the constellation.