Rocket Lab has successfully completed its 100th orbital launch of the Electron rocket. The mission, titled The Mountain God Rises, took place on November 14, 2026, from a spaceport in New Zealand. The launch successfully delivered a private Japanese Earth observation satellite into orbit.
The company began test flights of the 18-meter Electron rocket in May 2017. While the maiden flight was unsuccessful, the first successful deployment of CubeSat satellites occurred in January 2018. Since then, the vehicle has become a primary choice for delivering small payloads for both government and commercial clients.
Founder and CEO Peter Beck stated that Rocket Lab reached the 100-launch milestone faster than any other commercial orbital launch provider, including SpaceX with its Falcon 9 rocket. According to company data, the Electron rocket has maintained a 96% success rate across its previous 99 missions.
