
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
Two Passover initiatives target isolation and safety for Israel’s elderly - 2
Birutė Galdikas: The last of the ‘angels’ in primatology’s most extraordinary chapter - 3
NASA begins fueling rocket to launch astronauts on the first lunar trip in half a century - 4
Flu activity in US could continue to rise for weeks, top CDC epidemiologist says - 5
People can't get enough of this couple's Hallmark movie reviews. They don't know the painful backstory.
Google to Use Natural Gas to Power Massive Data Center in Texas
One killed, several injured in Iran missile barrage on southern, central Israel
What's the new 'Knives Out' mystery about? Everything to know about 'Wake Up Dead Man,' including who's in the cast and what the reviews say.
Top Breakfast Food: What's Your Morning Enjoyment?
JFK's granddaughter reveals terminal cancer diagnosis, criticizes cousin RFK Jr.
Proficient Cultivating Devices for a Lovely and Useful Nursery in 2024
Track down the Ideal Weight reduction Methodology for Your Way of life
'Unreal' solar eclipse: Artemis 2 crew just saw one of the rarest sights in spaceflight history
Step by step instructions to Choose the Right Internet based Degree Program for Your Future












