20 August 2026, 13:04 UTC
The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8)
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket flew the 'Lightning God Defends' mission from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, deploying a QPS-SAR synthetic-aperture-radar satellite for Japan's iQPS constellation to a 575km orbit. It was the ninth successful QPS-SAR launch and Electron's 93rd flight overall.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- LEO
- Low Earth orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 120 kg (est.)
- Flight
- 85th
- of 89 Electron flights
- Date and time
- 20 August 2026, 13:04 UTC
- Rocket
- Electron
- Builder
- Rocket Lab
- Launch site
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
- Payload
- Earth Science
- International designator
- 2026-191
- Launches in 2026
- 200th of 243
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas