Rocket Lab Launches Synspective's 12th Radar Satellite into 572-Kilometer Orbit

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 19, Rocket Lab used its Electron small launch vehicle to carry out the dedicated "Owl By The Dozen" mission from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, sending Japanese company Synspective's 12th StriX synthetic aperture radar satellite into a 572-kilometer low Earth orbit. The rocket lifted off at 15:22 local time. This mission was Electron's 96th launch and Rocket Lab's 17th launch this year. After the satellite completes orbital deployment, Synspective will spend several months conducting tests and commissioning, and will put it into service only after verifying its observation capabilities.

The mission used a single-satellite dedicated launch approach, with a target orbital inclination of 38 degrees. StriX-series satellites carry synthetic aperture radar and can observe the Earth's surface day and night and under cloud cover. This mission completed the satellite's orbital insertion milestone, which does not mean the satellite has already entered commercial operation; Synspective has made clear that on-orbit testing and commissioning still need to be completed afterward.

Rocket Lab began deploying the StriX constellation for Synspective in 2020 and has now completed 12 consecutive dedicated Electron launches. Under the existing launch arrangements between the two parties, 15 more missions have been booked, with plans to continue deploying the remaining satellites before 2030. The two parties completed their 10th dedicated mission on June 27, sent the 11th StriX satellite into orbit on September 2, and continued with the deployment of the 12th satellite in the same month.

Synspective's StriX constellation uses a network of small SAR satellites. On September 18, the company also signed an H3 rocket launch services contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for two additional StriX satellites, planned for implementation in 2027, so its subsequent constellation deployment will use both Electron and H3 launch channels. This "Owl By The Dozen" mission still falls under Rocket Lab's existing dedicated launch contract system. The next milestones are the 12th satellite completing on-orbit verification and transitioning to operational service, and the continued execution of the remaining booked Electron missions.