
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Rocket Lab launched a satellite for a mystery customer on Thursday morning (Nov. 20).
The liftoff, which occurred at 7:43 a.m. EST (1243 GMT) from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site, came as something of a surprise. The company formally announced the impending launch of its workhorse Electron rocket less than five hours ahead of time.
The mission, called "Follow My Speed" was a complete success, Rocket Lab announced via X on Thursday morning.
"Today's 'Follow My Speed' mission marks 18 launches with 100% mission success for 2025 — more than any other year in Electron's history — making our rocket the most frequently flown orbital small launch vehicle in the world," the company said in another Thursday X post.
Fifteen of those 18 launches have been orbital missions. The other three were suborbital flights involving HASTE, a modified version of the 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron that allows customers to test hypersonic technologies in the space environment.
We don't know much about "Follow My Speed."
Rocket Lab described the mission in vague terms only, saying that its goal was "to deploy a single satellite for a confidential commercial customer."
Keeping things so close to the vest isn't exactly odd for launch companies, who regularly loft national-security payloads or commercial satellites with sensitive, proprietary tech. Rocket Lab, for example, launched five satellites for a confidential customer just three months ago.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
入手困難な宝塚チケット、私設ファンクラブ通じ購入できるものの…不透明な「お花代」の慣行今も(読売新聞オンライン) - 2
東急脱線と同じ信号設定ミス、全国10事業者、15駅でも 緊急点検(朝日新聞) - 3
タワマンなしでは成り立たない再開発…「下町」にタワマンが急増する意外な理由(ビジネス+IT) - 4
10 Picturesque Campgrounds That Will Raise Your Outside Involvement with American - 5
Practice environmental safety in Style: Divulging Famous Electric Vehicle Brands
Tehran defends ship seizure as a legal action, but tensions continue in the Gulf
Liste des pr\u00eats qui ne n\u00e9cessitent pas de remboursement
Solar storms can trigger auroras on Earth. This star’s explosion could destroy a planet’s atmosphere
Inconceivable Spots To Stargaze All over The Planet
二宮和也、主演『8番出口』の興収50億円突破に驚き「面白いものができたなと思っていたけれど、びっくり」(ENCOUNT)
Imaginative Tech Contraptions That Will Work on Your Life
25年度上期の経常黒字、過去最大 17.5兆円、貿易収支黒字で 財務省(時事通信)
Vote In favor of Your Favored Pizza Cover
Desired Travel Objections Worldwide: Where to Go Straightaway












