Rocket Lab reached 100 launches of its Electron rocket with the "The Mountain God Rises" mission, taking off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on Saturday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. local time (05:30 GMT). The rocket placed the synthetic aperture radar satellite YAMATSUMI-II, built by the Japanese company iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space), into low orbit at 575 kilometers.

According to Rocket Lab, no other commercially developed rocket has reached a hundred launches so quickly, setting a record for the private space industry. The Californian company founded by Peter Beck in 2006 thus becomes the fastest to reach the milestone, even surpassing the historical pace of SpaceX with its Falcon 9.

The 100th flight marks the eleventh dedicated launch of Electron for iQPS, with 100% mission success for the Japanese customer since 2023. The Japanese company has booked seven additional Electron launches until 2030 to complete a constellation of thirty-six SAR satellites capable of high-resolution imagery day and night, including through clouds.

"Few rockets reach 100 launches in their entire operational life," said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. "This record pace is due to the tireless dedication of the Rocket Lab team." Beck noted that Electron pioneered 3D-printed engines and the world's first carbon-fiber orbital rocket, with a 96% reliability rate in 99 previous launches.

The mission also comes as Rocket Lab expands its portfolio beyond rockets, with more than 55 spacecraft in development, $400 million in satellite contracts in the last quarter, and two "Blue and Gold" satellites en route to Mars for NASA.

- Rocket Lab - The Mountain God Rises mission page
- Rocket Lab - Rocket Lab Hits 100 Electron Launches press release
- Space.com - 100 launches! Rocket Lab sends Earth-observing satellite to orbit on milestone mission
- Next Spaceflight - The Mountain God Rises | Electron/Curie
- NZ Herald - Rocket Lab celebrates 'Golden milestone'

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