Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar satellite to orbit on 'Owl Around the World' mission

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Rocket Lab successfully launched a private Japanese radar satellite to orbit early Wednesday morning (Sept. 2).

An Electron vehicle lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site on Wednesday at 8:01 a.m. EDT (1201 GMT; 12:01 a.m. local New Zealand time on Sept. 3). It carried a single Strix satellite for Synspective, a Tokyo-based Earth-imaging company.

Synspective is assembling a constellation of about 30 Strix satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). These spacecraft — which are named after a widespread genus of owl — use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to study our planet both day and night, and in all weather conditions.

The Strix constellation will "make it possible to quickly monitor and confirm on-the-ground changes during disasters such as earthquakes and floods at night, as well as in areas that are difficult to access," Synspective's website reads.

"In addition to disaster response, we will leverage our SAR satellite capabilities to promote efficient resource utilization," it adds. "For example, we can use our satellite data to monitor natural resources and urban development, ensuring sustainable and optimal use of land and water."

Eleven Strix satellites have now reached orbit to date, all of them atop Electron vehicles. Rocket Lab is currently the sole launch provider for Synspective and has 16 more missions for the company on its manifest after Wednesday's mission.

If all goes according to plan on Wednesday, the Electron's upper "kick stage" will deploy the Strix satellite 56 minutes after liftoff, at an altitude of 357 miles (575 kilometers).

The 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron is designed to give small satellites dedicated rides to Earth orbit and beyond. Wednesday's mission, which Rocket Lab calls "Owl Around the World," was the rocket's 12th of 2026 and 85th overall.

Rocket Lab has also launched nine missions to date with HASTE, a suborbital version of Electron that allows customers to test sensors and instruments in a hypersonic flight environment. While Electron debuted in 2017, HASTE lifted off for the first time in June 2023.