Historical public archive
Electron | The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8) — Post-launch Report
Mission date: . Published: .
Provider: Rocket Lab · Vehicle: Electron
Executive takeaway
Rocket Lab successfully launched the SUSANOO-II satellite into low Earth orbit on August 20, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration with iQPS for Earth observation capabilities.
Confirmed facts
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket successfully deployed the SUSANOO-II satellite into low Earth orbit on August 20, 2026, at 13:04 UTC. This mission marks the ninth collaboration between Rocket Lab and iQPS. The SUSANOO-II satellite is part of a planned constellation of 36 SAR satellites for Earth observation. Rocket Lab has a 100% mission success rate for iQPS's satellite deployments. The satellite was deployed into a 575-kilometer low Earth orbit approximately 50 minutes after liftoff.
Analyst context
The successful deployment of the SUSANOO-II satellite enhances the operational capabilities of iQPS's SAR constellation, which is critical for various applications in Earth observation. Rocket Lab's consistent performance strengthens its position in the small satellite launch market.
Compute signal
Details regarding onboard AI, edge-compute, or data-infrastructure capabilities of the SUSANOO-II satellite are not publicly disclosed, indicating a lack of specific information on advanced compute features.
Outcome
The mission was executed successfully without discrepancies from the pre-launch plan, reinforcing Rocket Lab's reputation in the industry and setting the stage for future launches.