Rocket Lab Launcher

Exolaunch to Deploy Eight Satellites for JAXA on Rocket Lab Electron Mission
April 2, 2026

xolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, satellite integration, and deployment services, will deploy eight customer satellites on the upcoming Kakushin Rising mission led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). For this mission, Exolaunch's EXOpod NOVA deployers have been selected to provide satellite deployment services, supporting the safe and precise release of the spacecraft once in orbit.

The satellites are scheduled to launch aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket no earlier than April 2026, from Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand. Through this mission, Exolaunch will provide its flight-proven separation systems and mission integration expertise to support reliable access to orbit for the participating spacecraft.

JAXA is conducting the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 mission, providing on-orbit demonstration opportunities for Japanese universities, research institutes, and private companies. The payload includes educational smallsats, an ocean monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and an antenna that can be packed tightly using innovative origami folding techniques then unfurl to 25 times its size when deployed.

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https://twitter.com/x/status/2043716352037228784
View: https://twitter.com/fccfilingalerts/status/2043716352037228784


$RKLB Rocket Lab USA - FCC Docket 0283-EX-ST-2026

This document is a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) granted by the FCC to Rocket Lab USA, Inc. for experimental operations related to launch vehicle and recovery activities. The authorization, call sign WA9XVZ, is effective from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. The STA specifies operating locations, including mobile locations near Wallops Island and in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as fixed locations in Middle River, Maryland. It details frequency usage, authorized power, and emission designators for various communication links involved in the Rocket Lab's mission. This includes telemetry and downrange verification activities.
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Rocket Lab Unveils New Electric Propulsion Satellite Thruster to Meet Constellation Demand

Rocket Lab’s in-house designed and manufactured electric propulsion system, named Gauss, features a Hall Thruster, Power Processing Unit and a Propellant Management Assembly. Recognizing the importance of not only bringing a new high-performance electric propulsion system to market, but also making it reliably available at scale, Rocket Lab has already established a high-volume Gauss production line designed to produce more than 200 thrusters per year, ensuring the Company can supply thrusters on demand in large quantities. Electric propulsion thrusters have historically proven extremely difficult to produce in high volumes, causing supply chain fragility for national security and commercial constellation operators alike. Rocket Lab has leveraged extensive propulsion experience, as well as the proven ability to manufacture critical satellite subsystems in high volumes, to finally deliver an electric propulsion solution in the rapidly growing quantities needed by the global space industry.

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Key Gauss Features:

* Heaterless cathode technology enabling instantaneous start.
* Magnetic shielding reduces erosion and extends lifetime to support long duration missions.
* Efficient GaNFet based electronics for optimized performance.
* Simple software command interface eliminates complex PPU parameter management.
* ITAR/EAR-free design well suited for wide range of LEO constellation applications.
* Xenon propellant (Krypton also possible)
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Some additional information is available in this video:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044034287436214411
View: https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2044034287436214411


Most significantly, that includes actual numbers ("it's about a 700 to 850 watt thruster that's got about 40 milinewtons thrust performance"), the detail that the thruster is throttleable, and a mention that it's built in New Zealand (explaining the "ITAR-free" feature from above).

View: https://youtu.be/UsaoajXERfY
 
I find it interesting they’re baselining xenon while mentioning constellations; that and krypton to a lesser degree are hideously expensive at scale, and we don’t produce much of either globally. But if RL doesn’t plan to scale to thousands of spacecraft it won’t be an issue.
 
EasternShoreSpaceflight
@EShoreSpaceflt
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Rocket Lab’s HASTE mission “Bubbles” gave us an incredible launch tonight, and I wanted to share two different perspectives from it.

The first was something new I tried — shooting in high-speed continuous mode (around 24–25 frames per second) and compiling those still images into a full sequence. It created a really smooth and unique view of the ascent.

The second was captured on a GoPro Hero 13 placed at the water’s edge in a vertical setup. I like this angle because it keeps the full launch profile in frame from liftoff all the way up. It also picked up some great audio, including a nearby photographer doing a countdown and reactions right after liftoff. The end of that video is sped up about 10x to show the rest of the ascent.

It’s late, everything is finally edited, and it’s time to get some sleep.

I really appreciate all the likes, comments, and messages tonight. I do my best to respond to everyone and keep updates coming during the holds and throughout the launch.

4k Video links:

View: https://youtu.be/QBd_7YTI8Es



and

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/Cbk0gxsuBjw
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2046819210848825800
View: https://twitter.com/EShoreSpaceflt/status/2046819210848825800
 
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwrZyEIZjg


Press release, and a new picture from the front gates of LC-1

Rocket Lab Completes Second Dedicated Launch for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Full Text Provided:

Mahia, New Zealand: Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its second dedicated mission for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), further strengthening the partnership between Rocket Lab and Japan’s national space agency.

The “Kakushin Rising” mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 3:09 p.m. NZT to successfully deploy eight spacecraft for JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program that included educational small sats, an ocean-monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna packed tightly using origami folding techniques that can unfurl up to 25 times its size.

“Kakushin Rising” builds on the success of Rocket Lab’s first dedicated launch for JAXA that took place in December 2025, which saw Electron deploy the RAISE-4 spacecraft that demonstrated new aerospace technologies developed by several companies, universities, and research institutions throughout Japan. As with that first mission, Rocket Lab worked closely with JAXA on “Kakushin Rising” to ensure the mission requirements for each satellite were met with precision and efficiency, reaffirming Electron's reputation for reliability and mission success.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “Two successful missions in a matter of months, deployed precisely where they needed to be on orbit, shows exactly why Electron is the preferred small launcher for national space agencies. JAXA is a world leader in space and it's been an honor to be trusted with these back-to-back missions growing Japan’s aerospace economy.”

“Kakushin Rising” was Rocket Lab’s 8th launch of the year and 87th launch overall. Upcoming launches in 2026 include missions for commercial Earth observation, new space technology demonstrations on orbit, and national security and defense.
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