“The Nation God Navigates” launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 19:51 UTC on November 5, 2025, deploying QPS-SAR-14, nicknamed YACHIHOKO-I for the Japanese god of nation-building, to a 575km circular Earth orbit.
This satellite joins the rest of the QPS-SAR constellation in providing high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and Earth monitoring services globally. iQPS aims to build a constellation of 36 SAR satellites that will provide near-real-time images of Earth every 10 minutes.
“The Nation God Navigates” was the sixth mission deployed on Electron for iQPS, making Rocket Lab the go-to provider for their constellation.
Rocket Lab ready to launch Japan’s “The Nation God Navigates” satellite
“The Nation God Navigates” is the name of a Rocket Lab mission launching on November 5, 2025, which will deploy a Japanese satellite for its operator, iQPS. The mission’s name and the satellite’s nickname, YACHIHOKO-I, are inspired by YACHIHOKO, the Japanese god of nation-building and navigation.
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global provider in launch services and space systems, announced the launch window for its next mission for multi-launch customer Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company. The mission will be Electron’s 74th launch to date and 16th mission this year.
The upcoming dedicated launch, named ‘The Nation God Navigates”, is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on November 5, 2025 UTC. The mission will deploy QPS-SAR-14, nicknamed YACHIHOKO-I for the Japanese god of nation-building, to a 575km circular Earth orbit. This satellite will join the rest of the QPS-SAR constellation in providing high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and Earth monitoring services globally. iQPS aims to build a constellation of 36 SAR satellites that will provide near-real-time images of Earth every 10 minutes.
‘The Nation God Navigates’ will be the sixth mission deployed on Electron for iQPS, following previous successful missions ‘The Moon God Awakens’ in December 2023 as well as ‘The Lightning God Reigns’, ‘The Sea God Sees’ , ‘The Mountain God Guards’ and ‘The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ in 2025. Beyond this mission, six more dedicated iQPS missions are set to launch on Electron in 2026 and beyond, making Rocket Lab the go-to provider for their constellation.
Rocket Lab is a leader in responsive launch and precise orbital access for a range of small satellite operators globally. The world’s most frequently launched commercial small-lift rocket, Electron continues to demonstrate its reliability amid a busy launch cadence, achieving 100% mission success on all missions this year – with more launches scheduled from now through the end of 2025.
‘The Nation God Navigates’ launch window opens:
- 2:45 pm Eastern, November 5
- 11:45 am Pacific, November 5
- 19:45 UTC, November 5
- 4:45 am JST, November 6
- 8:45 am NZT, November 6
Rocket Lab’s next Electron Launch will be the 6th mission for iQPS
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the launch window for its next mission for multi-launch customer, Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company—this mission will be Electron’s 74th launch to date and 16th mission this year.
The upcoming dedicated launch, named ‘The Nation God Navigates,” is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on November 5, 2025 UTC.
The mission will deploy QPS-SAR-14, nicknamed YACHIHOKO-I for the Japanese god of nation-building, to a 575 km circular Earth orbit. This satellite will join the rest of the QPS-SAR constellation in providing high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and Earth monitoring services globally. iQPS aims to build a constellation of 36 SAR satellites that will provide near-real-time images of Earth every 10 minutes.
‘The Nation God Navigates’ will be the sixth mission deployed on Electron for iQPS, following previous successful missions ‘The Moon God Awakens’ in December 2023 as well as ‘The Lightning God Reigns’, ‘The Sea God Sees’, ‘The Mountain God Guards’ and ‘The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ in 2025. Beyond this mission, six more dedicated iQPS missions are set to launch on Electron in 2026 and beyond, making Rocket Lab the go-to provider for their constellation.
‘The Nation God Navigates’ launch window opens:
- 2:45 pm Eastern, November 5
- 11:45 am Pacific, November 5
- 19:45 UTC, November 5
- 4:45 am JST, November 6
- 8:45 am NZT, November 6
Rocket Lab is a leader in responsive launch and precise orbital access for a range of small satellite operators globally. The world’s most frequently launched commercial small-lift rocket, Electron continues to demonstrate its reliability amid a busy launch cadence, achieving 100% mission success on all missions this year – with more launches scheduled from now through the end of 2025.