Rocket Lab successfully launched the QPS-SAR-12 satellite, also known as Kushinada-I, for the Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS. The mission, named "The Harvest Goddess Thrives," took place on August 5, 2025, from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The Electron rocket deployed the satellite into a 575 km circular Earth orbit, where it will join the QPS-SAR constellation to provide high-resolution synthetic aperture radar images and Earth monitoring services globally.
This launch marks the fifth dedicated mission for iQPS, following previous successful launches in December 2023 and earlier in 2025. The QPS-SAR-12 satellite is part of iQPS's planned constellation of 36 synthetic aperture radar satellites, designed to deliver high-resolution Earth observation data regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The data gathered by the QPS-SAR constellation has the potential to revolutionize industries and reshape the future by providing insights into moving objects, enhancing urban safety and security, and offering predictive analytics for agriculture, national economies, and regional markets when integrated with weather, market, and economic data.
Rocket Lab continues to demonstrate consistent responsive launch capabilities and operational excellence, solidifying its position as a global leader in dedicated small satellite launches for commercial, civil, and government missions. The company is also preparing for the anticipated debut of its medium-lift reusable Neutron rocket, which is expected to be operational sometime in 2025.