
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
Peloton recalls more than 800,000 bikes after broken seat posts injure users - 2
Astronomer captures 2 meteors slamming into the moon (video) - 3
Sophie Kinsella, 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' author, dies at 55 after battle with cancer - 4
The Manual for Well known rough terrain Vehicles - 5
Manual for 6 well known Amusement Park
A red meat allergy from tick bites is spreading – and the lone star tick isn’t the only alpha-gal carrier to worry about
Find the Interesting Universe of Computerized reasoning: the Capability of man-made intelligence
Five killed in Israeli air strikes on tents near Khan Younis, medics say
Where America’s CO2 emissions come from – what you need to know, in charts
The most effective method to Alter Your Savvy Bed for A definitive Rest Insight
Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication
From Certificate to Dollars: College Majors with Extraordinary Monetary Prizes
21 Things You Ought to Never Share with Your Childless Companion
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on something even Sherlock can’t solve: male grief












