On Monday, November 2, 2026, aerospace company Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket from its base in New Zealand, carrying a Japanese Earth observation satellite into space. The mission, designated The Sea God Surveys, lifted off at 13:41 Brasília time and is set to position the satellite in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 575 kilometers.
The payload was developed by the company iQPS and features synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology. Unlike conventional satellites that rely on optical sensors, this equipment uses radar signals to observe the terrestrial surface. This capability allows for continuous monitoring even during nighttime or when cloud cover obscures the region, overcoming limitations faced by standard optical sensors.
This launch marked Rocket Lab's 99th mission since the start of its operations and represented the 90th flight conducted by the Electron rocket in its two-stage configuration. The vehicle, which stands approximately 18 meters tall, is designed to transport small satellites on dedicated launches. In 2026 alone, the Electron has completed 17 flights.
The mission also served as the tenth collaborative flight between Rocket Lab and iQPS. The Japanese company aims to build a constellation of 36 SAR-equipped satellites to expand its Earth observation capabilities. This latest launch represents another step toward that goal. Rocket Lab's remaining nine missions in its total count were conducted using HASTE, a suborbital version of the Electron used for testing technologies under hypersonic flight conditions. The HASTE model debuted in June 2023 and typically carries classified payloads.
Sources: Olhar Digital.