Rocket Lab wins third multi-launch contract from Japanese satellite company IQPS
Rocket Lab yesterday signed its third multi-launch contract from the Japanese satellite company, the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (IQPS or Q-shu), adding three more launches and bringing the total of launches purchased to 18, seven of which have already launched.
These three new dedicated launches for iQPS are scheduled to take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 from late 2027. Each mission will deploy a single QPS-SAR satellite to a 575km low Earth orbit that will continue the build out of iQPS’ Earth-imaging constellation using synthetic aperture radar: a technology that enables images to be created from radio wave measurements and allows data to be collected during any time of day and under any weather conditions.
The signing of this contract at this moment is somewhat reassuring. Rocket Lab’s last attempt to launch anything was for Q-shu on June 30, 2026, but that launch aborted at T-0 seconds. Since then Rocket Lab has attempted no other launches, including delaying a launch of NASA that had been scheduled for mid-July. At present its next launch, another attempt for Q-shu, is tentatively set for August, but no date has been set.
The gap in launches had suggested there was a larger more serious issue with Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. This contract signing tells us that concern is over-rated. Q-shu would know better than anyone what the issues were for the abort and gap, and yet it signed a new contract today.
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