JAXA Taps Rocket Lab for December Launch as Company Eyes Neutron Rocket Debut
Rocket Lab signs direct contract with JAXA for two Electron launches starting December 2025, boosting Japan's space innovation as company stock surges 600% in 12 months.
- New Partnership: Rocket Lab (RKLB) has signed a direct contract with Japan's JAXA for two dedicated Electron rocket launches from New Zealand
- First Mission (December 2025): Will deploy RAISE-4 satellite demonstrating eight cutting-edge technologies from Japanese companies, universities, and research centers
- Second Mission (2026): Rideshare launch carrying eight satellites including educational projects, ocean monitoring equipment, tiny multispectral cameras, and an innovative origami-style deployable antenna that expands 25 times its packed size
- Strong Track Record: Rocket Lab has completed multiple successful missions for Japanese operators with 100% mission success rate this year, including debris removal and constellation deployment projects
- Growing Portfolio: More than 24 dedicated Electron missions booked for Japanese customers through 2030, working with operators like iQPS, Synspective, and Astroscale-Japan
- Stock Performance: Company shares have skyrocketed 150% in 2025 and nearly 600% over the past year despite no annual profits yet
- Future Growth: Investors are betting on Neutron, Rocket Lab's larger rocket launching by year-end, which could compete with SpaceX's Falcon-9 for lucrative satellite constellation contracts
- Global Significance: These missions showcase international space cooperation—U.S. company launching from New Zealand for Japanese space agency