Rendering if iQPS SAR satellites in orbit. Photo: iQPS

Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS has tapped Rocket Lab for a dedicated Electron launch, switching mission providers after Virgin Orbit went out of business. The mission is set for September and will launch the company’s QPS-SAR-5 satellite named “TSUKUYOMI-I.” 

iQPS originally contracted Virgin Orbit for the launch, announced in May of 2022, but Virgin Orbit went out of business earlier this year. This is the company’s first mission with Rocket Lab. 

Rocket Lab announced the upcoming mission on Aug. 17. It is named “The Moon God Awakens” for Tsukuyomi, the Japanese God of the Moon. QPS-SAR-5 is a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite that will join a constellation after QPS-SAR-6 already in orbit. 

iQPS CEO Dr. Shunsuke Onishi commented: “We highly appreciate Rocket Lab and our team for all their efforts in arranging this new launch contract as it is very meaningful for us to quickly deploy the satellites into orbit and build a 36-QPS-SAR constellation that will enable near real-time observation almost anywhere in the world.”