Japan’s iQPS lines up eight SAR launches

ST. LOUIS — Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, iQPS, plans to launch eight additional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites through the end of 2026.

Rocket Lab, the U.S. launch provider that sent QPS-SAR-10 into orbit on May 17, is on contract to launch the next iQPS satellite no earlier than June. Including that flight, four more iQPS missions will fly in 2025.

Since the May 17 launch, iQPS has contacted QPS-SAR-10 and deployed its SAR antenna.