Rocket Lab Completes Record 100th Electron Launch

Rocket Lab successfully completed Electron’s 100th launch on Nov. 14, becoming the fastest commercially developed rocket to reach the milestone. The mission, “The Mountain God Rises,” lifted off from New Zealand and deployed a synthetic-aperture radar Earth-imaging satellite for Japan’s iQPS into low Earth orbit. Since Electron’s first flight in 2017, the rocket has become a frequent small-satellite launcher, with a record that includes pioneering carbon-composite construction and 3D-printed engines. The milestone follows a 96% reliability rate across the first 99 launches, and Rocket Lab says its next 100 flights are already booked.