MAHIA, New Zealand, Aug.  20, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its Electron rocket to deploy the latest

RKLB

MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab Launches 93rd Electron Mission

Rocket Lab's iQPS mission expands Electron backlog, signaling multi-year growth

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>MAHIA, New Zealand, Aug.  20, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its Electron rocket to deploy the latest</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Rocket Lab announced the successful Electron launch for iQPS, deploying a 575 km SAR satellite and moving toward 2030 with nine more iQPS launches booked. This expands Electron&#039;s utilization and provides longer-term backlog visibility, reinforcing RKLB&#039;s cadence and potentially raising confidence in future revenue from government and commercial space missions.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Rocket Lab launches Electron for iQPS. 93rd Electron flight, 14th this year.</li><li>iQPS backlog grows. Nine more Electron missions through 2030.</li><li>575 km LEO SAR satellites deployed. Strengthens Electron&#039;s iQPS role.</li><li>Launch marks milestone. Nine more Electron launches remain to 2030.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Rocket Lab (RKLB)</strong>: Announced the mission; reinforces Electron cadence and potential revenue visibility.</li><li><strong>Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (N/A)</strong>: Private customer; nine more QPS-SAR launches booked to 2030, underpinning RKLB backlog.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Industry News</h3>
    <p>Industry News: Highlights ongoing launch cadence and multi-year backlog expansion, relevant to RKLB&#039;s revenue visibility and investor sentiment.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>iQPS will book nine Electron launches through 2030, expanding backlog.</li><li>Nine remaining missions imply extended revenue cadence beyond 2026.</li><li>Electron remains iQPS&#039; primary launcher, supporting repeat orders.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>93rd Electron launch; 14th launch of 2026.</li><li>Launch time 1:04 a.m. NZST on Aug 21, 2026.</li><li>Orbit: 575 km low Earth orbit.</li><li>iQPS deployed its ninth QPS-SAR satellite with 100% mission success.</li><li>Nine dedicated Electron launches remain booked by iQPS to deliver the constellation to space by 2030.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Bullish for RKLB on multi-year iQPS backlog; potential upside as launches materialize through 2030.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p>MAHIA, New Zealand, Aug.  20, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RKLB">RKLB</a>), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its Electron rocket to deploy the latest Earth-imaging satellite to space for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).</p>  <p>‘The Lightning God Defends’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:04 a.m. NZST on August 21, 2026, and deployed the next QPS-SAR satellite in iQPS’ synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging constellation to a 575km low Earth orbit.</p>  <p><strong>Mission Highlights:</strong></p>  <ul type="disc"><li style="margin-bottom:8pt;"><strong>Milestone Flight:</strong> This mission marked Rocket Lab’s 93rd overall Electron launch and 14<sup>th</sup> launch of the year.</li><li style="margin-bottom:8pt;"><strong>iQPS Partnership: </strong>This was the ninth deployment of a QPS-SAR satellite with 100% mission success, reinforcing Electron’s position as the primary launch vehicle for the iQPS constellation.</li><li style="margin-bottom:8pt;"><strong>More Missions: </strong>With today’s mission complete, nine dedicated launches remain booked on Electron by iQPS to deliver their constellation to space by 2030.<br></br></li></ul>  <p><strong>‘The Lightning God Defends’</strong> <strong>launch images</strong>: <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=VEz_ehNbOIfcBFmkUalSdM-yGdC_CKUSGTodJ0Z6YjtZ5ofBtR4oHby6TBwkntKG3PLVJd5UVe3Ectk020mIy8hXs6MRpfk-y9bBQvG78eHQtyhVddB0Wr5FGWdkfjXEkQj7SQGCsDCmg2NJS9yOV-e4P9vR3lQHwOl40AGCkzMVB7kItQiCc2xVuJXVjf_CvyvXfPr3bLjRPVz4N7LJtA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flight 93 &#x7C; The Lightning God Defends &#x7C; Flickr</a></p>  <p><strong>‘The Lightning God Defends’</strong> <strong>launch broadcast:</strong> <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=-FqS0np4J4CrVXsWCzGnU-FEBBokgUOmDZaR1lnFLhmI8SVOFM33Z0wXT3okjj29a9suUksUVMEqrK1D_HMa82FbLs5yjli1jzP35X0tQ7WhkevAlIvpy_ZCJG7Rb0GVu1A6S6d4ScMyKSZH4xaPDUV2MsqCIR4ODvk32rWpq2Q=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rocket Lab - &#39;The Lightning God Defends&#39; Launch - YouTube</a></p>  <p><strong>Rocket Lab Media Contact</strong><br></br>Murielle Baker<br></br><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=LAzJZsraFcaIo1teT0ralQwL3IEEWjiRDoqUUXc9xSyBJB3GD9C8hRnb_zRhTm2o2-wSb0eRU-DCXn3O4FgByMMC7o1P3y5ke7tPh1rIJDc=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">media@rocketlabusa.com</a></p>  <p><strong>About Rocket Lab</strong><br></br>Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RKLB">RKLB</a>) is an end-to-end space company delivering rockets, satellites, and spacecraft components for commercial, government, and defense missions. Driven by its industry-leading small-lift rockets Electron and HASTE and its upcoming reusable Neutron medium-lift rocket, Rocket Lab delivers reliable and responsive launch for the world’s most important missions from constellation deployment to missile defense. Rocket Lab’s satellites and components have powered more than 1,700 missions in Earth orbit, as well as deep-space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Learn more at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=axMfU-08RJpr7byrjIiwUUHBv13LYDioZfcbJGoJoQNYn-AvK0FgK5Dnb1qsUHgXpoaRSuAQBXb33XwklXjrirEAb1SoFTb4SQ7HKjBtpJA=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.rocketlabcorp.com</a>.</p>  <p><strong>Forward Looking Statements </strong><br></br>This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "strategy," "future," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC’s website at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=u_G04eVpg3EJRRe2a5BEO6kKS9qOPy4lR6xNgPnXRHmcl8xezxBkzERGdXWGVOGMb9zSLz1y6yZJs_vCVEzaH81E9CjwACY9GRSHjuUJXt3Dm1MVfjHlqxTTSu4lZ7mQqyrNVurkicx0HGvYcKznB4JSMXztpd_ymoOOaAOdYTmbq5tAR_j4ex_wuI9DWmzan2zieLYuwG1srx6Y7OGgZb_5CSfEhZMbDqY72RD6bVx-TKms9Po7OPmobkkOyL6aBLA4qxPsL8mhIF4IBUssRA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.sec.gov</a> and the Investor Relations section of our website at  <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3StGC213keFHfMHvup8DvIHiMauzXCEEbz1ZM0KZZpmRvMe9zRcjKx0z75DZhv2d3g3dDbGFrqV_a1q26xShewE-8IQzsIB7aQ9UTwF4FeA6EWj7jBzPLR9A7oN6Z1I0JSFwaRHKFH9HS24DnaoaZw==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com</a> which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTgxMzYwNSM3Nzg2MjU0IzIyNTc0NDU="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/NjVjNzc0MjgtYjNjNi00MzI1LWIxZTEtMWM5MDVmMDJjYWMwLTEyNjg5OTQtMjAyNi0wOC0yMC1lbg==/tiny/Rocket-Lab-Corporation.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5785cc8-1501-4a8f-8c5c-ca3e966db143"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/d5785cc8-1501-4a8f-8c5c-ca3e966db143/small/rocket-lab-logo-rgb-png.png" border="0" width="150" height="55" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Rocket Lab announced the successful Electron launch for iQPS, deploying a 575 km SAR satellite and moving toward 2030 with nine more iQPS launches booked. This expands Electron's utilization and provides longer-term backlog visibility, reinforcing RKLB's cadence and potentially raising confidence in future revenue from government and commercial space missions.

News insight

MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab Launches 93rd Electron Mission

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Sentiment rationale

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