Rocket Lab launches eight Japanese satellites including origami antenna spacecraft
Rocket Lab successfully launched eight Japanese satellites into orbit aboard its Electron rocket from New Zealand, marking the company’s 80th Electron mission and its second dedicated flight for JAXA. The mission, named “Kakushin Rising,” lifted off from the Mahia Peninsula launch complex on April 23 local time, carrying a range of experimental payloads developed by Japanese universities, research institutions, and private companies.
The launch formed part of JAXA’s satellite technology demonstration program, designed to test innovative systems in orbit. Among the payloads, OrigamiSat-2 stood out due to its deployable antenna, which uses folding techniques inspired by origami. The antenna can expand up to 25 times its stowed size once deployed in space. Other satellites onboard included educational platforms, an ocean monitoring spacecraft, and compact multispectral imaging systems aimed at testing next generation observation capabilities.
The full manifest included MAGNARO-II, KOSEN-2R, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, FSI-SAT2, OrigamiSat-2, Mono-Nikko, ARICA-2, and PRELUDE. These satellites were originally scheduled to launch on Japan’s Epsilon-S rocket alongside the RAISE-4 mission. However, repeated test failures of the Epsilon-S launcher forced JAXA to shift the payloads to a dedicated mission with Rocket Lab, ensuring timelines for technology validation were maintained.
The Kakushin Rising mission builds on an expanding partnership between Rocket Lab and JAXA. A previous mission in December 2025, known as “RAISE and Shine,” successfully deployed the RAISE-4 satellite into a sun synchronous orbit, marking the first direct contract between the two organizations. The latest launch reinforces Rocket Lab’s position as a flexible provider of dedicated small satellite missions.
The launch also comes amid strong financial momentum for the company. Rocket Lab reported record annual revenue of 602 million dollars in 2025, representing a 38 percent increase year on year, alongside a backlog valued at 1.85 billion dollars, up 73 percent from 2024. Analysts point to tightening global launch capacity as a factor strengthening pricing power, while the development of the larger Neutron rocket remains a key long term growth driver. Recent upgrades in analyst ratings reflect confidence in the company’s launch services and its expanding role in defense focused space systems.
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