
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
The Benefits of Effective money management for Your Youngsters' Future Monetary Prosperity - 2
Vacuum Cleaners That Are Not difficult To Use For Home - 3
Figure out How to Score Huge with Open Record Rewards - 4
Nitty gritty Manual for Picking Agreeable Tennis shoes - 5
The Job of a Land Legal counselor in Property Exchanges
The Ascent of Robots: Occupations That Man-made brainpower Might Dispense with
PHOTO ESSAY: Scientists trying to unravel one of the body's biggest mysteries
Ghassan Al-Duhaini to replace Abu Shabab as Popular Forces leader in Gaza
She's been a Bond girl and a mutant. Now she's grappling with Hollywood's obsession with 'eternal youth.'
Qatar, Ireland accuse Israel of using chemical weapons on Palestinians, demand watchdog probe use
Monetary Security: Building Serious areas of strength for an Establishment
How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free this weekend
Misjudged Objections For Solo Voyagers
Vote in favor of Your #1 Instructive Toy: Learning and Tomfoolery Joined













