Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window for First of Multiple iQPS Missions

This mission, titled "The Lightning God Reigns," is set to lift off from Rocket Lab's private launch facility, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, in New Zealand. The launch window opens on March 10 UTC.

The payload for this mission is a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, QPS-SAR-9, also known as "SUSANOO-I." The satellite will be deployed into a 575km circular Earth orbit, contributing to iQPS' expanding constellation, which aims to provide high-resolution Earth imagery with updates from targeted locations approximately every 10 minutes.

"The Lightning God Reigns" is the first of eight planned launches that Rocket Lab will conduct for iQPS through 2025 and 2026, following a previous successful launch in December 2023. Each mission will utilize a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband to facilitate the separation and deployment of the satellite once in orbit.

This launch will mark Rocket Lab's third mission of 2025, bringing the company's total Electron flights to 61 and increasing the number of satellites deployed by Rocket Lab to 211.