
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
Will your baby get a hep B vaccine? What RFK panel's ruling means. - 2
Unwinding the Starting points of America: An Excursion Through History - 3
2024 Watch Gathering: The Best Watches of the Year - 4
Ukraine apologizes to Finland for crashed drones - 5
Dave Coulier reveals he has tongue cancer, his 2nd diagnosis in a year, after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Day to day Temporary Positions That Compensate Fairly in the US
Poland open to German troops to help secure Ukraine ceasefire
The Most Compelling Innovation Developments Somewhat recently
Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way
Hostile to Maturing Skincare Items to Rejuvenate Your Skin
Miss 'Stranger Things' already? Here's how you can get your Upside Down fix in 2026 with spinoffs, games and more
The Way to Business: Startup Illustrations Learned
EU calls on Western Balkans to step up reforms for membership
Exploring the Market: Unsold Rams May Be Less expensive Than You Naturally suspect












