
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
Flourishing in Retirement: Individual Accounts of Post-Vocation Satisfaction - 2
Find Serenity: 10 Stunning Setting up camp Areas - 3
Best bar-b-que Style: Which One Is Your Number one? - 4
Practice environmental safety in Style: Divulging Famous Electric Vehicle Brands - 5
Don’t let food poisoning crash your Thanksgiving dinner
Why are malnutrition deaths soaring in America?
Computerized Moderation: Tracking down Equilibrium in the Advanced Age
April's full moon decides the date of Easter — here's how it works
Chris Noth responds to backlash after seemingly shading 'Sex and the City' costar Sarah Jessica Parker: 'It is not news'
Vote In favor of Feasible Way You Prescribe to Shop for Garments
Floods, Landslides Triggered By Heavy Rain In Afghanistan Leave 77 Dead In 10 days, Authorities Say
7 Powerful Techniques to Boost Efficiency with Your Cell Phone: A Far reaching Guide
Apollo's impatient old-timers are rooting for NASA's return to the moon with Artemis II launch
Iran war upends aviation strategies













