Rocket Lab, a US-based launch services and space systems company, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Japanese SAR provider Synspective. The 10-satellite launch extension comes a year and a half after both companies agreed on the first multi-launch agreement, which promised 11 satellite launches.
With a total of 21 Strix satellite launch agreements in place across multiple missions, this partnership solidifies Rocket Lab’s expansion and influence in the growing small lift launch market. All launches are planned to originate from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
For Synspective, a 30-satellite constellation is planned by the late 2020s. The company has three launch contracts with SpaceX and another for nine missions with Exolaunch’s mission management services. The use cases of their satellites range from land displacement monitoring, flood damage assessment, and object detection and classification.
“Rocket Lab’s precision and track record have consistently enabled us to stay on schedule and achieve our mission objectives. As we move forward with 21 launches, our continued collaboration is crucial to accelerating the deployment of our SAR satellites and the growth of our contribution to global risk reduction across the domains of security, disaster resilience, and the environment,” commented Founder and CEO Motoyuki Arai.
After raising a Series C investment round last summer, Synspective has expanded its operations, opened a mass manufacturing site for satellite production, opened a subsidiary in the US, and went public in Japan late last year.
