Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese Earth-observation satellite into orbit on Friday, marking the 97th launch of its Electron rocket and the company’s 18th mission of 2026.
The “Owlright Owlright Owlright” mission lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 8:39 p.m. EDT on Sept. 25, carrying the 13th StriX satellite for Japanese company Synspective. The spacecraft was successfully deployed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 559 kilometers.
Expanding an Earth-imaging constellation
The StriX satellite is part of Synspective’s constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) spacecraft, which are designed to collect high-resolution images of Earth’s surface day and night and in different weather conditions.
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The satellites are intended to provide Earth-observation data for applications including urban planning, infrastructure management and natural disaster response. The latest launch expands a constellation that is planned to reach 30 spacecraft by the end of the decade.
Rocket Lab said the latest mission also completed the deployment of all 13 StriX satellites delivered so far under its multi-year partnership with Synspective. Another 14 launches are scheduled to deploy the remaining spacecraft in the constellation by the end of the decade.
Rocket Lab’s 18th launch this year
The mission was Rocket Lab’s 97th Electron launch overall and its 18th launch of 2026. Electron has carried out 15 orbital launches this year, while three additional missions used the company’s HASTE suborbital rocket.
The Electron is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. Synspective’s StriX spacecraft use SAR technology to image the Earth even when visibility is limited, including at night or under cloud cover.
The latest mission continues Rocket Lab’s rapid launch schedule as it works to deploy satellites for commercial customers from its New Zealand launch site.
