Ibadan, 21 September 2026. – Rocket Lab has successfully launched another synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite for Japanese Earth-observation company Synspective, adding the 12th spacecraft to its growing StriX constellation. The rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, continuing a launch relationship between the two companies that dates back to 2020.
Building out the StriX constellation with Electron
The “Owl By The Dozen” mission lifted off on 19 September at 03:22 UTC, carrying a single StriX satellite into a 572-kilometer low Earth orbit at an inclination of 38 degrees. The mission was Rocket Lab’s 96th Electron launch and its 12th dedicated mission for Synspective’s SAR constellation.
The new spacecraft will join Synspective’s StriX constellation, which uses SAR imagery for applications including urban development, construction and infrastructure monitoring, as well as disaster response. Synspective will be putting spacecraft into the company’s growing Earth-observation capacity withm minimal delay.
The launch continues a relationship that has made Electron the primary vehicle for building out Synspective’s constellation. Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for the StriX program since 2020, and the 19 September mission extended the companies’ record of successful dedicated launches to 12.
Rocket Lab has another 15 dedicated Electron missions manifested for Synspective following the launch, representing a substantial remaining launch commitment for the constellation.
Synspective adds H3 to its launch plans
The launch also comes shortly after Synspective added Japan’s H3 rocket to its launch plans. On 18 September, the company signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) covering the launch of two additional StriX satellites in 2027. The satellites are scheduled to launch from the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center into a mid-inclination orbit, giving Synspective a second launch route for the continued expansion of its constellation.
The H3 agreement gives Synspective an additional option for deploying satellites as it expands its space infrastructure. The company has linked the agreement to the need for satellites to be delivered into orbit continuously and reliably as it seeks to make SAR data more useful for disaster response, infrastructure monitoring and security. Electron therefore remains central to the StriX deployment program, while H3 provides another launch vehicle for the constellation’s expansion.
The launch diversification comes as Synspective expands its plans beyond StriX. On 15 September, the company announced Synspective OMNIA, a program that will involve building a new SAR satellite constellation alongside the existing StriX fleet and making its capacity available to multiple customers.
With Synspective now developing additional constellation infrastructure while continuing to deploy StriX satellites, having more than one launch route could give the company greater flexibility as its satellite operations grow.
Another StriX launch follows
Nevertheless, the deployment campaign is set to continue shortly, with Rocket Lab currently targeting 26 September for its next dedicated Synspective mission, “Owlright, Owlright, Owlright.” The Electron flight is expected to carry another StriX satellite from Launch Complex 1, marking the 13th dedicated Rocket Lab launch for Synspective and underscoring the pace at which the company is building out its SAR constellation.
