Rocket Lab successfully launched the seventh Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite for the Japanese firm Synspective on October 14, 2025. The mission, dubbed "Owl New World," utilized the company's dependable Electron rocket, lifting off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. This launch marked Rocket Lab's 15th mission of 2025, signaling a strong operational tempo that is set to surpass its previous annual record.
The payload was precisely inserted into its designated 583-kilometer orbit with a 42-degree inclination approximately fifty minutes after the 12:33 p.m. Eastern Time liftoff. This deployment is the inaugural flight under a significant, long-term agreement between the two companies. The agreement commits Rocket Lab to a series of 21 dedicated Electron launches for Synspective between now and the end of the decade.
This extensive launch campaign is foundational to Synspective's overarching objective: to establish a comprehensive constellation of 30 StriX satellites to advance its geospatial intelligence capabilities. The successful mission validates Rocket Lab's increasing proficiency in executing complex, multi-launch contracts for major clients in the small satellite sector. Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, confirmed the 100% mission success and highlighted the importance of precise orbital access for constellation growth.
The partnership is one of several anchoring Rocket Lab's robust mission backlog, with projections indicating the company aims for upwards of 20 Electron launches throughout 2025. This operational rhythm is crucial for clients like Synspective, who require rapid assembly of persistent monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, Rocket Lab recently secured a separate, significant undertaking with iQPS, another Japanese entity, involving three dedicated Electron missions scheduled to commence no earlier than 2026, reflecting a broader industry reliance on specialized launch services for orbital network assembly.