Rocket Lab Nears 100th Electron Launch as It Tests Its Edge in Commercial Space Market

At a glance

US space company Rocket Lab is preparing the 100th launch of its small rocket, Electron. The mission will carry an Earth-observation satellite for Japan's iQPS from New Zealand.

Key points

• The launch is planned from the Mahia site in New Zealand at 6:30 p.m. local time on November 14.
• The mission carries an iQPS Earth-observation satellite that uses radar signals to see the ground even through clouds or at night.
• The company is also developing Neutron, a medium-lift rocket, with its first launch targeted for 2027.
• The company said it has 16 Neutron launch contracts worth over $515 million, though contract value is not the same as revenue already recognized.

Why it matters

Launch services are a competitive global market. What matters most is whether a rocket actually places its satellite into the planned orbit and completes the mission, since that is what builds trust in a company.

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