Rocket Lab Aborts Launch of Japanese IQPS Radar Satellite Grain Goddess
Summary: Rocket Lab aborted the launch of Japanese IQPS Earth-observing radar satellite Grain Goddess on June 30, 2026 from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.
On June 30, 2026, Rocket Lab attempted to launch a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) microsatellite named Grain Goddess for Japanese Earth observation company IQPS from Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand. The Electron rocket automatically aborted during the countdown after its system detected an anomalous parameter, and the mission was subsequently postponed. The specific trigger for the abort has not yet been disclosed by Rocket Lab.
IQPS is a Japanese company specializing in small SAR satellites designed to deliver high-cadence radar remote sensing data for applications including disaster monitoring, maritime tracking, and infrastructure change detection. Grain Goddess is the latest addition to the company's growing constellation, and was intended to reach orbit aboard this Electron flight.
The Electron rocket is a small launch vehicle tailored to the dedicated small-satellite market. This abort marks another delay for the vehicle in recent operations. A new launch window has not yet been announced. According to space.com, Rocket Lab will investigate the issue and reschedule the mission at a later date.