
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
Exclusive-Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump - 2
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 186 — Snow on the Moon? - 3
CDC's upcoming vote on hepatitis B vaccine could impact childhood immunization - 4
Why the chemtrail conspiracy theory lingers and grows – and why Tucker Carlson is talking about it - 5
The most effective method to Recuperate After a Dental Embed Strategy: A Far reaching Guide
NASA funds new tech for upcoming 'Super Hubble' to search for alien life: 'We intend to move with urgency'
The largest sun of 2026 rises today as Earth draws closest to our parent star
Israel violated ceasefire with Hezbollah more than 10,000 times, UNIFIL claims
An Extended period of Voyaging Carefully: the World with Reason
IDF bans Android phones for senior officers, iPhones now mandatory, Army Radio reports
A top Marine shares his secrets to keeping fit at 50
Shooting of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro has police searching for a suspect
The Reduced Portage Horse: An Inheritance Reconsidered for Present day Experience
Instructions to Decide whether a Fender bender Legal counselor is Required for Your Particular Case













