Rocket Lab Launches Japanese Satellite with 8 New Technologies
- Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese experimental satellite designed to demonstrate new technologies on December 13,2025.
- This mission marks the first direct launch undertaken by Rocket Lab for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as reported by ar.saleh13.com. It is indeed part of a...
- Rocket Lab has a pre-existing relationship with Japan, having previously launched over 20 missions for Japanese-based companies.
Rocket Lab Launches Japanese Satellite with New Technologies
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Launch Details
Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese experimental satellite designed to demonstrate new technologies on December 13,2025. The 18-meter-long Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s launch site in New Zealand, following a seven-day delay from the originally scheduled date of December 6, 2025, to allow for additional testing.
First Direct Mission with JAXA
This mission marks the first direct launch undertaken by Rocket Lab for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as reported by ar.saleh13.com. It is indeed part of a two-flight agreement between Rocket Lab and the Japanese Space Agency, with the second mission planned for early 2026.
Rocket Lab has a pre-existing relationship with Japan, having previously launched over 20 missions for Japanese-based companies.
RAISE-4 Satellite Deployment
The launch deployed JAXA’s experimental satellite, RAISE-4 (Rapid Innovative Satellite Exploring New Dimensions), into a circular orbit 540 kilometers (336 miles) above Earth, approximately 54.5 minutes after liftoff.According to Rocket Lab, RAISE-4 will “demonstrate eight technologies developed by private companies, universities and research institutions across Japan.”
Record-Breaking Year for Rocket Lab
The “RAISE and Shine” mission contributes to a triumphant year for Rocket Lab, which has completed 19 missions in 2025.This includes sixteen orbital flights and three suborbital launches utilizing the HASTE rocket – a modified Electron rocket designed for testing hypersonic technologies. This surpasses Rocket Lab’s previous annual launch record of 16 missions, achieved in 2024.