
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
Most loved Real time feature: Which Stage Do You Like - 2
The Significance of Prenuptial Arrangements in Separation Procedures - 3
Mechanical Sidekick d: A Survey of \Elements and Execution d\ Cell phone - 4
Reconnecting with an old friend is a story of distance, loss and rediscovery - 5
Vote in favor of the wide open action that revives your psyche and soul!
Hubble sees spiral galaxy in Lion's heart | Space photo of the day for Nov. 4
The Magnificence of Do-It-Yourself Skincare: Regular Recipes and Tips
Don’t let food poisoning crash your Thanksgiving dinner
Passenger Missing After Going Overboard Disney Cruise Ship
Figure out how to Use Your Brain research Degree in the Gig Market
6 Fledgling Cameras for 2024: Ideal for New Photographic artists
AstraZeneca to invest $2 billion as part of US manufacturing push
Poll: By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans say Trump has done more to raise prices than lower them
6 Top Computer game Control center













