Rocket Lab Sings Agreement With Institute For Q-Shu Pioneers Of Space For Three New Dedicated Launches On Electron

This contract is the third multi-launch booking on Electron by iQPS announced in less than a year – bringing the total number of launches booked to 18 and further solidifying Electron’s position as the world’s most sought-after small-lift launch vehicle.

These three new dedicated launches for iQPS are scheduled to take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 from late 2027. Each mission will deploy a single QPS-SAR satellite to a 575km low Earth orbit that will continue the build out of iQPS’ Earth-imaging constellation using synthetic aperture radar: a technology that enables images to be created from radio wave measurements and allows data to be collected during any time of day and under any weather conditions.

Rocket Lab’s own satellite separation system called the Motorized Lightband has also been purchased for all iQPS missions, streamlining the company’s access to space with reduced scheduling risk.

Placing satellites within a constellation already on orbit is exactly the challenge Electron was created to solve. As iQPS’ primary launch provider, Electron has deployed seven QPS-SAR satellites to space with 100% mission success since 2023, each time with the reliability and precision that satellite operators have come to expect from Electron. This latest deal provides iQPS with the security of regular launch slots for their constellation as demand for Electron launches reaches record heights.