
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
6 Famous Cell phone Brands All over The Planet - 2
Miley Cyrus flashes a diamond ring on the red carpet, sparking engagement rumors with Maxx Morando: A timeline of their four-year relationship - 3
Vote in favor of your Number one natural product - 4
Bombardier Global 8000 Enters Service - 5
First SpaceX booster for upgraded Starship fails during test in Texas
Surveys of 6 Hot Savvy Beds
December's overlooked meteor shower peaks next week — will the Ursids surprise us?
Extraordinary Miracles: The Cherished Islands for a Tropical Get-away
10 Famous Frozen yogurt Flavors All over The Planet
Instructions to Utilize Your Brain science Certification to Work on Corporate Culture
The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch
Why this Iranian island looks like Mars after it rains
Vote In favor of Your Number one Savvy Beds
Figure out How to Explore Your Direction to the Best Dental Embed Trained professional: A Far reaching Manual












