Rocket Lab launches 97th Electron mission, deploys 13th StriX satellite

Rocket Lab launched its "Owlright, Owlright, Owlright" mission on September 26, 2026, delivering the 13th StriX satellite for Synspective into a 559-kilometer low Earth orbit. The Electron vehicle launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B in New Zealand — on the first attempt, keeping a perfect mission success record across the partnership. This marked the 97th overall mission for Electron and the 18th of 2026, pushing the rocket to within three flights of its 100th overall launch, powered by a unique battery-driven turbopump architecture no other rocket has replicated. Video Credit: Rocket Lab