
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
Cygnus XL brings cargo to the ISS for 1st time | Space photo of the day for Dec. 1, 2025 - 2
Best Internet based Course for Learning Another Dialect: Which Stage Do You Like? - 3
Winter virus season so far is not too bad, but doctors worry about suffering to come - 4
Which Film Has the Incomparable Melodic Score? - 5
Full SNAP benefits must be paid ‘promptly,’ USDA tells states as government reopens
Astounding Treehouses All over the Planet
Find the Insider facts of Compelling Systems administration: Building Associations for Progress
Instructions to Decide whether a Fender bender Legal counselor is Required for Your Particular Case
The Significance of a Land Lawyer for Your Business
The Force of Organic product: 10 Assortments That Improve Your Wellbeing
The most effective method to Shield Your Gold Ventures: Procedures and Precautionary measures
As infant botulism cases climb to 31, recalled ByHeart baby formula is still on some store shelves
Germany's Merz under fire in Brazil for his comments on Amazon host city of COP30
Video Conferencing Instruments for Virtual Gatherings













