When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Rocket Lab will launch a Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite on Monday night (Dec. 8), and you can watch the action live.
A 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron rocket is scheduled to launch the "RAISE and Shine" mission from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site Monday at 10 p.m. EST (0300 GMT and 4 p.m. local New Zealand time on Sunday, Dec. 7). That represents a delay of two days; Rocket Lab originally targeted Saturday night (Dec. 6).
Rocket Lab will stream the launch live beginning 30 minutes before liftoff. Space.com will carry the feed if, as expected, the company makes it available.
"RAISE and Shine" is the first flight that Rocket Lab has contracted directly with JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). It's part of a two-flight deal with the Japanese space agency; the second mission is a rideshare launch scheduled for early next year.
The California-based company has a long history with Japan overall, however, launching more than 20 missions to date for companies based in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Monday's launch will send JAXA's Rapid Innovative payload demonstration Satellite-4, known as RAISE-4, to a circular orbit 336 miles (540 kilometers) above Earth.
The satellite's full name tells us broadly what it will do up there. RAISE-4 "will demonstrate eight technologies developed by private companies, universities, and research institutions throughout Japan," Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description.
"RAISE and Shine" will continue a record-breaking year for Rocket Lab, which has launched 18 missions in 2025 so far, all of them successful. Fifteen of them have been orbital flights. The other three were suborbital launches with HASTE, a modified version of Electron designed to help customers test hypersonic technologies in the final frontier.
Rocket Lab's previous single-year launch record was 16, set in 2024.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 10:45 am ET on Dec. 7 with the new launch date of Dec. 8.
latest_posts
- 1
From Modesty to Administration: Self-improvement in Interactive abilities - 2New heart disease calculator predicts 30-year risk for young adults
- 3New CDC recommendation postpones hepatitis B vaccine for newborns
- 4US FDA investigates Takeda's blood disorder drug after pediatric death
- 5Unwinding History's Secrets: Looking for the Response to Antiquated Human advancements
- Wegmans recalls mixed nuts over salmonella contamination fears
- Vote In favor of Your Favored Web-based Venture Stage
- The Force of Positive Reasoning: Everyday Confirmations
- Purdue Pharma's deal means money for some victims, end of Purdue company name. Here's what to know
- Favored Vehicle for Seniors: Make Your Determination
- Instructions to Arrange Your Compensation During Medical caretaker Prospective employee meetings
- The Best Games Crossroads in History
- Most loved Amusement Park for Small children: Which One Do You Suggest?
- Wellness Bits of knowledge Readily available: A Survey of \Following Wellbeing and Progress\ Wellness Wearables
