Rocket Lab, a space launch and technology company, successfully launched the QPS-SAR-14 radar satellite, nicknamed Yachihoko-I, into orbit earlier today. The launch, marking the sixth mission for Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS, took place from Rocket Lab’s launch site in New Zealand.
Expanding Earth Observation Capabilities
The Electron rocket carrying Yachihoko-I lifted off at 2:51 p.m. EST (1951 GMT; 8:51 a.m. local New Zealand time). Approximately 50 minutes after launch, the Electron’s kick stage deployed the satellite into a circular orbit 357 miles (575 kilometers) above Earth. This latest addition will join the existing iQPS-SAR constellation, significantly expanding global Earth monitoring services.
The satellites within the iQPS constellation use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. SAR allows satellites to create high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, even in cloudy conditions or during nighttime. This is in contrast to traditional optical imagery, which requires clear skies and sunlight.
Building a Comprehensive Constellation
iQPS has ambitious plans to build a constellation of 36 SAR satellites. Their goal is to provide near-real-time images of the entire Earth, captured every 10 minutes. Yachihoko-I represents a crucial step towards achieving this goal. It is the 13th iQPS satellite to successfully reach orbit. Notably, seven of these satellites — including some of the initial members of the constellation — have been launched on other rockets, such as India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, Japan’s Epsilon, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Mission Naming and Rocket Lab’s Progress
The name “Yachihoko-I” draws inspiration from the Japanese god of nation-building, reflecting the satellite’s purpose in providing valuable Earth observation data. The mission was accordingly named “The Nation God Navigates.”
This launch represents a significant milestone for Rocket Lab, being their 16th launch of 2025 and their 74th overall. The majority of these launches have been conducted using their Electron rocket, which stands at 59 feet (18 meters) tall. Rocket Lab also operates a suborbital version of the Electron, called HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron). HASTE has completed five successful test flights since its debut in June 4023.
The continued deployment of these satellites and the expansion of Rocket Lab’s launch capabilities underscore the growing importance of Earth observation technology for a range of applications, from disaster response to environmental monitoring.
The successful launch of Yachihoko-I demonstrates Rocket Lab’s consistent performance and vital role in supporting the development of Earth observation capabilities worldwide. It highlights a growing trend toward constellations of satellites providing continuous and detailed monitoring of our planet
