Rocket Lab Caps Record-Breaking 2025 with Perfect Mission Success Rate
Mahia, Sunday, 21 December 2025.
Rocket Lab finalized its 2025 operations today, achieving a flawless 100% success rate across a record-breaking 21 launches, cementing its status as a reliable industry leader.
Mission Execution and Payload Deployment
The mission, designated ‘The Wisdom God Guides,’ lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 19:36 NZT (06:36 UTC) today, December 21, 2025 [1]. This flight successfully deployed the QPS-SAR-15 satellite, also known as “SUKUNAMI-I,” into a mid-inclined orbit at an altitude of 575 km [1][6]. This event marks the 79th overall mission for the Electron rocket, a vehicle that stands 18 meters tall and has become the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket [1][8]. The successful deployment continues Rocket Lab’s support of the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), having previously launched seven satellites for their constellation since 2023 [1].
Operational Consistency and Market Impact
Achieving 21 launches in a single calendar year with a 100% success rate represents a significant operational milestone for Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) [1][2]. In an industry where precision is paramount, maintaining a flawless record over such a high volume of missions signals robust reliability to commercial and government sectors. Sir Peter Beck, the company’s founder and CEO, characterized the year as a “fantastic record-setting year of Electron launches,” emphasizing the team’s execution capabilities [1]. This performance is critical for the company, which designs and manufactures small and medium-class rockets and spacecraft components to support the broader space economy [2]. Prior to this launch, the Electron vehicle had already established a streak of 37 consecutive successes as of December 20, a number that has now increased following today’s successful operation [8].
Expanding the iQPS Constellation
The payload for this mission plays a crucial role in iQPS’s strategy to establish a constellation of 24 satellites by the fiscal year 2027, with a long-term goal of 36 satellites [6]. The QPS-SAR-15 satellite utilizes Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, which is designed to be lightweight—approximately 1/20th the weight of traditional SAR satellites—and cost-effective [6]. This technology enables the observation of specific regions worldwide at average intervals of 10 minutes, regardless of weather conditions [6]. Looking ahead, the partnership between the two entities is set to expand, with five additional launches on the Electron vehicle planned for iQPS starting in 2026 [1].
Outlook for 2026
Rocket Lab shows no signs of reducing its operational tempo as it transitions into the new year. The company has confirmed that the next Electron launch is already scheduled for early in the first quarter of 2026 [1]. By concluding 2025 with a perfect mission success rate across 21 flights, Rocket Lab has effectively demonstrated the reliability of its end-to-end space systems, positioning itself strongly for continued execution in the competitive launch market of 2026 [1][2].