
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
Nutrient Rich Natural products: Lift Your Wellbeing - 2
How a toxic self-improvement trend with a funny name took over your feed - 3
7 Powerful Techniques to Boost Efficiency with Your Cell Phone: A Far reaching Guide - 4
African Forests Have Become a Source of Carbon Emissions - 5
Northern lights chances rise for Christmas as space weather remains unsettled
Find Serenity: 10 Stunning Setting up camp Areas
Deadly heat worldwide prompts $300 million for climate health research at COP30
Step by step instructions to Open a Lovely Waterway Voyage Insight: Conveniences, Administrations, and Elite Offers
Doctors thought he had cancer. An offhand suggestion led to a rare diagnosis.
Liste des pr\u00eats qui ne n\u00e9cessitent pas de remboursement
Find Unexpected, yet invaluable treasure Excursion Rentals
Boats escort freed whale away from shallow waters off German coast
Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
Rio Tinto resumes operations at three Pilbara port terminals after cyclone Narelle












