Rocket Lab signs third iQPS launch deal for three more Electron missions
Rocket Lab · iQPS
Rocket Lab will fly three more iQPS SAR satellites on Electron starting late 2027, its third contract with iQPS this year.
what happened
Rocket Lab signed a contract for three dedicated Electron launches of iQPS QPS-SAR satellites from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand starting late 2027, per SpaceNews and the companies' joint release. Each satellite will reach a 575-kilometer orbit, and Rocket Lab's Motorized Lightband separation system will be used on all iQPS missions. It is iQPS's third multi-launch deal with Rocket Lab in the past year, following contracts in October 2025 and April 2026, bringing Rocket Lab's total contracted iQPS missions to 18, of which seven have flown with 100% mission success.
why it matters
Repeat, expanding orders from the same SAR operator show Rocket Lab converting Electron's reliability record into a recurring revenue base independent of its Neutron program, while iQPS keeps building out its radar constellation on a single launch provider rather than diversifying suppliers.
for who
SAR constellation operators, smallsat launch buyers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- Rocket Lab, iQPS
- Category
- contract
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-07-30
- Published
- 2026-07-30 17:31 UTC