Electron | Raise and Shine (RAISE-4)
Launch Successful
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Instantaneous launch window.
Launch Window
Dec. 14, 2025, 3:09 a.m. - Dec. 14, 2025, 3:09 a.m.
Instantaneous launch window.
Dec. 14, 2025, 3:09 a.m. - Dec. 14, 2025, 3:09 a.m.
RAISE-4 (RApid Innovative payload demonstration Satellite-4) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite for on-orbit demonstrations of 15 demonstration components and equipment selected by public solicitation. The satellite will be operated in response to requests from the demonstration theme proposers, and will provide experimental data of the demonstration devices and environmental data during the experiments. 6 of the demonstration payload, as well as as well as 4 cubesats originally planned to ride on the same launch vehicle, are re-flight of those planned for RAISE-3, which failed to reach orbit in October 2022. The launch vehicle was switched from Epsilon-S to Rocket Lab's Electron due to continuous testing problems with the Epsilon-S' 2nd stage motor. The original 8 hitch-hiking cubesats will be launched on another Electron rocket later.
Tweaked T-0.
Delayed to NET December 12.
Updated launch weather, 90% GO.
Liftoff.
Spacecraft separation.
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
See DetailsRocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
INFO WIKI
The Japanese space agency JAXA has selected Rocket Lab to launch a set of technology demonstration satellites on Electron rockets after continued delays with a Japanese launch vehicle. The post JAXA to launch tech demo satellites on Elect…
The upcoming launch week, starting on Monday, Dec. 8, is a very busy one as… The post Launch Roundup: China, Russia, Rocket Lab, ULA join SpaceX in flying this week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully launched a technology demonstration satellite for JAXA Dec. 13 as the company reshuffles its launch manifest. The post Rocket Lab launches JAXA tech demo satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.
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