Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing satellite after 5-week delay (video, photos)
Rocket Lab launched its eighth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS on Thursday morning (Aug. 6), five weeks later than originally planned.
The Japanese Earth-observing satellite QPS-SAR-13, operated by iQPS, successfully launched from New Zealand on Aug. 6, 2026, five weeks after its initial planned date. The satellite, known as MIKURA-I, was carried into orbit by Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle, which deployed it into a 357-mile-high orbit. The satellite will utilize high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology to capture images of Earth, weather permitting, day and night.
This marks Rocket Lab's 13th mission of 2026 and the 92nd overall, with most of its launches utilizing the Electron rocket. The successful launch also signifies Rocket Lab's growing involvement in suborbital missions, with a recent contract signed for up to 18 suborbital missile-defense missions.
Brief written by urgent.news from Space.com's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
