Viva La StriX
Viva La StriX was a Rocket Lab Electron mission for Synspective that launched successfully at 09:33 UTC on 22 May 2026 (9:33 p.m. NZST on 22 May; 5:33 a.m. EDT on 22 May) from Launch Complex 1B on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
09:33 UTC on 22 May 2026 · 9:33 p.m. NZST on 22 May · 5:33 a.m. EDT on 22 May
Mission State
This mission currently has a dated launch window in the tracker.
The primary watch link points to an official Rocket Lab source.
Launch Updates
-
Launch success.
by Cosmic_Penguin Source: synspective.com -
Spacecraft separation.
by Cosmic_Penguin Source: youtube.com -
Liftoff!
by hitura-nobad Source: youtube.com
Updates via Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).
Name Origin
The name is a play on the phrase "Viva La Vida," combined with "StriX," which refers to the specific satellite constellation being launched for the customer, Synspective. "StriX Launch 9" indicates this is the ninth mission delivering hardware for that program.
Mission Overview
Synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective.
In the news
- Mission Success: Rocket Lab Completes 9th Electron Launch for Synspective (opens in a new tab) Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab successfully deployed the ninth StriX satellite for Synspective via Electron. The mission reached a 572km orbit from New Zealand. Rocket Lab has 18 more Electron launches booked for Synspective.
- Rocket Lab launches ninth Synspective satellite (opens in a new tab) SpaceNews
Rocket Lab launched Synspective's ninth StriX radar imaging satellite via Electron. The payload reached a 572 km orbit. Rocket Lab plans to sell up to $3B in stock to fund future growth and acquisitions.
- Rocket Lab launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video) (opens in a new tab) Space.com
Rocket Lab launched a Strix radar satellite for Japanese company Synspective on May 22, deploying it to a 572-kilometer orbit; The mission was the ninth for Synspective.
Technical Details
40
kiwis- Viva La StriX rocketlabcorp.com
Launch data cross-checked against Wikipedia.
Was this a jellyfish launch?
UnlikelySun 52° below the horizon at liftoff — full night, the plume stays in Earth's shadow.
Details
- Unlikely
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Liftoff
- 9:33 p.m. NZST · 09:33 UTC
- Sunset
- 4:59 p.m. NZST · 04:59 UTC
- Civil dusk (−6°)
- 5:28 p.m. NZST · 05:28 UTC
- Nautical dusk (−12°)
- 6:01 p.m. NZST · 06:01 UTC
- Astronomical dusk (−18°)
- 6:33 p.m. NZST · 06:33 UTC
Twilight times at the pad (Mahia, NZ) for the evening of the launch.
What's a rocket jellyfish? When a rocket launches in twilight, the ground is dark but its exhaust plume climbs into sunlight high above. The expanding plume glows against the dark sky in a jellyfish-like shape.
Space-Object Catalog
| Object | Operator | Built by | Mass | Orbit | Status | NORAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strix-7 2026-112A · Payload | Operator Synspective Inc. | Built by Synspective Inc. StriX | Mass 150 kg | Orbit 543 × 577 km · 44.9° | Status On orbit | NORAD 69177 |
Electron 88 Kick Stage 2026-112B · Stage | Operator Rocket Lab Ltd. | Built by Rocket Lab Ltd. Kick Stage | Mass 50 kg | Orbit 540 × 575 km · 44.9° | Status On orbit | NORAD 69178 |
Electron 88 Stage 2 2026-112C · Stage | Operator Rocket Lab Ltd. | Built by Rocket Lab Ltd. Electron St2 | Mass 250 kg | Orbit 138 × 190 km · 44.9° | Status Decayed 2026-06-07 | NORAD 69179 |
