Rocket Lab secures historic launch agreement with Japanese firm Synspective

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, has signed its largest Electron launch agreement to date with Synspective, a prominent Japanese Earth observation company. Announced in Tokyo, the contract encompasses ten dedicated launches and underscores a deepening partnership that began in 2020. This historic deal not only extends Rocket Lab’s role as the sole launch provider for Synspective but also marks a significant stride in the global space industry.

The agreement was highlighted during a notable event in Tokyo attended by Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck, Synspective founder and CEO Dr. Motoyuki Arai, and the Right Honorable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New to Zealand. This occasion, part of a broader business delegation aimed at accelerating technology and trade relations between Japan and New Zealand, underscores the international collaboration essential to advancing space technology.

Since 2020, Rocket Lab has successfully launched four missions for Synspective’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, StriX, which provides critical data for monitoring environmental and infrastructural changes on Earth. The new agreement includes ten more launches scheduled between 2025 and 2027 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Each satellite will be the sole payload, allowing precise control over launch and deployment parameters, crucial for the strategic expansion of Synspective’s satellite constellation.

Synspective’s StriThe SAR satellites are capable of capturing high-resolution images under any weather conditions, day or night, making them invaluable for applications such as infrastructure monitoring, agricultural optimization, and disaster response. This technology supports sustainable human activities and addresses global challenges such as climate change and resource depletion.

Rocket Lab’s growing role in the space sector is exemplified by its expanding launch schedule and the technological trust placed in it by international partners like Synspective. The collaboration between Rocket Lab and Synspective is setting new standards in the space industry, enhancing both companies’ capabilities and global reach.