Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspectives StriX constellation, successfully deploying four StriX satellites across four dedicated Electron launches since 2020.
Rocket Lab has announced its largest Electron launch agreement to date, a ten-launch deal with Japanese Earth observation company Synspective. The landmark agreement was revealed at an event in Tokyo attended by Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck, Synspective founder and CEO Dr Motoyuki Arai, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Rocket Lab has been the exclusive launch provider for Synspective since 2020, successfully completing four missions for the Japanese company. The partnership began with the deployment of the first satellite in Synspectives synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, designed to provide high-resolution imagery capable of detecting millimeter-level changes on Earths surface from space.
To date, Rocket Lab has launched four dedicated Electron missions for Synspective, deploying four StriX satellites. The new agreement includes 10 additional dedicated launches, set to take place between 2025 and 2027. Additionally, two more launches are scheduled for this year from Rocket Labs Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
By being the sole payload on the Electron rocket, Synspective gains control over the launch schedule and precise deployment parameters for each satellite, allowing them to expand their constellation according to their specific needs and maximise coverage for their customers.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said: “We are honoured that the Synspective team has once again entrusted Rocket Lab with the deployment of their constellation and were proud to be their launch partner for another ten missions, our largest launch agreement to date. Japans space industry is one of the fastest growing globally and were excited to be enabling this growth through the unique collaboration of a US rocket and a New Zealand launch site, delivering an unprecedented level of tailored access to orbit for Japanese small satellites.”
Dr Motoyuki Arai added: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Rocket Lab to launch 10 new satellites. This agreement gives us a solid foundation and confidence, as Rocket Lab is an innovative launch provider. We look to accelerate building our satellite constellation and expand our services in the future. We appreciate Rocket Lab’s significant role in moving our business forward. We will continue to build an analytics platform that enables the visualisation and analysis of global environmental and economic activities, starting with constructing a SAR satellite constellation. These efforts will help make human activities sustainable for our generation and address the challenges of a changing global environment and depleting resources.”
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon stated: “New Zealand innovation in space technology is rapidly putting our country on the map in this fast-growing industry. I am very pleased to witness the signing of this significant contract during my first visit to Japan as Prime Minister it is a clear demonstration of the many opportunities to grow trade and prosperity between our two nations. Collaboration with international partners is critical to enabling our space industry to maximise its potential on the global stage.”
