
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
Dutch police probe a small blast outside a pro-Israel Christian center - 2
US FDA approves Kura-Kyowa's blood cancer therapy - 3
Protest inspired by 'Gen Z' movement draws few young people in Mexico and many government critics - 4
Genetic study identifies earliest-known dog, dating to 15,800 years ago - 5
Becoming Familiar with an Unknown dialect: My Language Learning Excursion
One perk to marrying Richard Marx later in life? 'We don't have time' for stupid arguments, says Daisy Fuentes.
If someone's always late, is it time blindness, or are they just being rude?
The Response to Independence from the rat race: Methodologies for Creating Financial momentum
Discovering a true sense of harmony: Contemplation and Care Practices
Exclusive-Head of Pemex's production arm to step down in coming days, sources say
Where America’s CO2 emissions come from – what you need to know, in charts
Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 5 people and wound 30 more
How comfort foods trigger pleasure in our brains
Toddler diagnosed with cancer makes remarkable recovery after aggressive treatment












