
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
Vote In favor of Your Favored Language Interpretation Administration - 2
I'm a woman who's into weightlifting. Was I man enough for the creatine-packed 'Man Cereal'? - 3
Manual for extravagance SUVs for seniors - 4
Toilet rats? Washington health officials warn of possible rodents in sewer systems after floods - 5
Top 15 Supportable Design Brands Coming out on top
5 Breakout Stars in Ongoing television Series
What's the Fate of 5G Innovation?
Web designers for Independent ventures
Which Carrier Do You Suggest? Vote
California warns of death cap mushrooms outbreak resulting in 3 deaths
Vote in favor of Your Number one BWM Vehicles
Revvity says it will exceed 2025 profit forecast range
Abbott issues US device correction for some glucose monitors over faulty readings risk
What is ‘Auld Lang Syne’? Why we sing this song at midnight on New Year’s Eve.













