On Wednesday evening, Rocket Lab successfully deployed eight Japanese satellites into orbit using its Electron rocket, which launched from New Zealand. This flight marked the 80th mission for the Electron vehicle and the second dedicated launch performed on behalf of the Japanese space agency, according to Supercluster.

The "Kakushin Rising" Mission

The launch vehicle for the "Kakushin Rising" mission lifted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand on April 23, local time. The flight delivered a diverse set of spacecraft to orbit as part of JAXA’s "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration" program, providing opportunities for Japanese universities, research institutes, and private companies to test technologies in real-world spaceflight conditions.

Among the eight satellites, OrigamiSat-2 is particularly noteworthy. It features a deployable antenna that folds compactly using origami principles and expands to 25 times its stowed size once deployed. The manifest also included educational small satellites, an ocean monitoring device, and a demonstration platform for ultra-small multispectral cameras. The full payload lineup consisted of: MAGNARO-II, KOSEN-2R, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, FSI-SAT2, OrigamiSat-2, Mono-Nikko, ARICA-2, and PRELUDE.

Originally, the satellites were intended to fly on the Japanese Epsilon-S rocket alongside the RAISE-4 mission. However, due to repeated static fire test failures of that rocket, JAXA contracted Rocket Lab for a dedicated launch.

Investor Interest

The launch comes amid a surge of investor enthusiasm surrounding Rocket Lab. At the end of 2025, the company reported record annual revenue of $602 million—a 38% increase year-over-year—while its contract backlog reached $1.85 billion, a 73% jump compared to 2024. Analysts point to the shrinking availability of launch capacity across the industry as a factor boosting the company's pricing power, while the development of the larger Neutron rocket remains a key long-term catalyst. Citizens Bank recently upgraded Rocket Lab to "Outperform" with a price target of $85, citing its strong position in launch services and defense-related space systems.