
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
‘Integral part of our nation’: Herzog visits Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem ahead of Christmas - 2
The next frontier in space is closer than you think – welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites - 3
'Wicked: For Good' was filmed at this surreal National Park in Egypt - 4
I took my shoes off and went for a barefoot hike. I couldn’t believe what happened next - 5
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks tonight, but will the full 'Wolf Moon' outshine the show?
Electric Vehicles for Eco-Accommodating Driving
vote in favor of Your #1 kind of climate
Kobe Bryant called this WNBA star the 'Gold Mamba.' She turned his advice to her into a tattoo.
Shipping: The Corridors of Trade and the Coming of Another Period
The Way to Fruitful Weight reduction: Individual Wellbeing Excursions
UK to hold fresh pork, other affected Spanish products at border amid African swine fever outbreak
Supreme Court case about ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ highlights debate over truthful advertising standards
Over 60 local leaders push Netanyahu to halt haredi draft bill, warn of social rift
Step by step instructions to Protect Your Speculations with Cd Rates













