Electron | The Lightning God Defends | 20.08.2026

[Orionid]

NET koniec 08.2026
Misja „The Lightning God Defends” wyniesie satelitę QPS-SAR, nazwanego SUSANOO-II, od imienia japońskiego boga piorunów, na orbitę okołoziemską o h=575 km.
Będzie to kolejny start w ramach japońskiej konstelacji do obrazowania Ziemi.

Mission Name The Lightning God Defends
Vehicle Electron
Launch Date NET late August 2026
Launch Time TBD
Launch Site Launch Complex 1
Payload QPS-SAR
Orbit 575 km LEO
Inclination 42 degrees

‘The Lightning God Defends’ is Rocket Lab's next launch for iQPS to deploy their Earth-imaging constellation to space. Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, Electron will deploy the latest QPS-SAR satellite, nicknamed SUSANOO-II for the Japanese god associated with lightning, to a 575km circular Earth orbit.

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s ninth launch for iQPS over a total of 18 launches. Rocket Lab is the primary launcher for iQPS’ commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, which is being developed and deployed at a rapid pace to provide high resolution and near-real time SAR imagery to its global users.

https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/the-lightning-god-defends/

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_ 8:54 AM · Aug 11, 2026
According to newly published hazard area's the next Electron launch from LC-1 is scheduled for August 15th. While it's possible it's QPS-SAR-18, it seems a bit early for "Late-August". While LOXSAT is possible, it'd be more likely BlackSky, as they mentioned 2 upcoming launches.

Lukas C. H.@GewoonLukas_·Aug 6
Unfortunately LOXSAT will have to wait a bit longer, as Rocket Lab confirmed their next launch will be "The Lightning God Defends" for iQPS. The mission will carry QPS-SAR-18 nicknamed "SUSANOO-II". Launch is scheduled for Late-August.

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2087070111622410714

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 11:25 PM · Aug 19, 2026
Electron's next launch will be another dedicated mission for @QPS_Inc to deliver the latest QPS-SAR satellite in their Earth-imaging constellation to low Earth orbit.

"The Lightning God Defends" launch window opens early tomorrow:
🚀1:00 am NZST, Aug 21
🚀13:00 UTC, Aug 20
🚀10:00 pm JST, Aug 20
🚀9:00 am EDT, Aug 20
🚀6:00 am PDT, Aug 20

ThinkReal @thinkReal 12:10 AM · Aug 20, 2026
The Lightning GOD Defends! ⚡️
Let's Go $RKLB 🚀

https://twitter.com/thinkReal/status/2090199778147635247

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_ 3:07 PM · Aug 19, 2026
According to new hazard area's, the next Electron launch from LC-1 is now scheduled for tomorrow at 12:30-14:35 UTC. This almost certainly is "The Lightning God Defends" with QPS-SAR-18 "SUSANOO-II", as the orbit of QPS-SAR-9 "SUSANOO-I" passes over LC-1 a little after 13:00 UTC.

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2090062978712322370