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

[Orionid]

QPS-SAR jest gotowy do wyniesienia.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 4:37 AM · Aug 20, 2026
The latest QPS-SAR Earth-imaging satellite by @QPS_Inc is integrated, encapsulated, and ready for launch on Electron this evening.

"The Lightning God Defends" launch window opens:
🚀 1:00 am/13:00 NZST/UTC
🚀 10:00 pm JST
🚀 9:00 am EDT
🚀 6:00 am PDT

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2090267068776247540

2) Trwają poziome kontrole przed ustawieniem RN Electron w pozycji pionowej na wyrzutni LC-1B.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 9:19 AM · Aug 20, 2026
Just under 6 hours until our next Electron launch and latest mission for @QPS_Inc. Horizontal checkouts are underway before Electron is raised vertical on Pad B at Launch Complex 1 for our 14th launch of the year.

Launch window opens:
🚀 1:00 am/13:00 NZST/UTC
🚀 10:00 pm JST
🚀 9:00 am EDT
🚀 6:00 am PDT

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2090337999557136427

[Orionid]

Zbliża się 2. start Electrona w III kwartale 2026.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 11:53 AM · Aug 20, 2026
Electron is vertical on the pad at LC-1 for our 14th mission of the year and latest launch for @QPS_Inc. [...]

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2090376728002863205

2) Rozpoczęło się tankowanie ciekłym tlenem.
Pogoda w 80% na GO.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 1:24 PM · Aug 20, 2026
LOX fueling has begun for Electron's next launch in just under T-2 hours. Weather is 80% favorable, the range is clear, and  preparations remain on track for the launch window opening at 1:00 am NZST.

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2090399554546127172

[Orionid]

11. start orbitalny RN Electron w 2026.
9. start Rocket Lab w ramach projektu iQPS, który tworzy konstelację 36. satelitów z radarem o syntetycznej aperturze (SAR) na LEO.

QPS-SAR-18 20.08.2026
https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=6951.msg206914#msg206914

Start z Nowej Zelandii
  20.08. o 13:04 z Onenui Station wystrzelona została RN Electron/Curie, która wyniosła na orbitę satelitę QPS-SAR-18.
http://lk.astronautilus.pl/n260816.htm#07
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=65612.0

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 3:19 PM · Aug 20, 2026
LIFTOFF! Electron has launched for the 93rd time🚀

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2090428410355146965

Peter Beck @Peter_J_Beck 5:56 PM · Aug 20, 2026
Got to love a night launch

https://twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/2090468002303250631

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 4:29 PM · Aug 20, 2026
Our 93rd Electron rocket on its way to space for @QPS_Inc.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2090446044102631544

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 3:25 PM · Aug 20, 2026
LAUNCH at 1304 UTC Aug 20 of Rocket Lab Electron flight 93 from Pad 1B at Mahia, New Zealand with the SUSANOO-II (QPS-SAR-18, スサノオ-Ⅱ) radar satellite for iQPS.

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2090430037568700518

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlab/albums/72177720335212406/

MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab Launches 93rd Electron Mission

21 August, 2026. MAHIA, New Zealand: Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its Electron rocket to deploy the latest Earth-imaging satellite to space for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).

‘The Lightning God Defends’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:04 a.m. NZST on August 21, 2026, and deployed the next QPS-SAR satellite in iQPS’ synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging constellation to a 575km low Earth orbit.

Mission Highlights:

Milestone Flight: This mission marked Rocket Lab’s 93rd overall Electron launch and 14th launch of the year.
iQPS Partnership: This was the ninth deployment of a QPS-SAR satellite with 100% mission success, reinforcing Electron’s position as the primary launch vehicle for the iQPS constellation.

More Missions: With today’s mission complete, nine dedicated launches remain booked on Electron by iQPS to deliver their constellation to space by 2030.

https://rocketlabcorp.com/updates/mission-success-rocket-lab-launches-93rd-electron-mission/

Michal Vaclavik @Kosmo_Michal 5:55 PM · Aug 21, 2026
Translated from Czech
The parabolic antenna was successfully deployed.

https://twitter.com/Kosmo_Michal/status/2090830199516483792

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 9:27 AM · Aug 21, 2026
QPS-SAR-18 cataloged in the expected 569 x 582 km x 42.0 deg orbit, confirming successful launch by Rocket Lab.

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2090702217670001005