^{(Photo: First communication @ iQPS Control Room)}

Fukuoka, JAPAN – March 15th, 2025 – Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) released its satellite QPS-SAR-9, named “SUSANOO-I” was successfully injected into its scheduled orbit at 09:55 JST, which was launched by Rocket Lab Electron at 09:00 JST today. We are also pleased to announce that the first communication with SUSANOO-I was successfully made about 90 minutes later. We were able to confirm that all the satellite’s equipment was working properly and that the satellite was in good health. We will continue to make adjustments, deploying the antenna, and acquire the first images.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Congratulations to the Rocket Lab and iQPS teams on yet another successful mission together. Every Electron launch in 2025 so far has been to expand a satellite constellation and with this latest mission success, you can see why. Electron provides our customers with total flexibility and control over their schedule, orbit, and other critical mission elements to create their constellation exactly as they need it. We’re looking forward to continuing our constellation build out for iQPS this year and next.”

iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: “I sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work of the teams at iQPS and Rocket Lab in making this launch mission a success, and I am truly impressed by the short timeline from QPS-SAR-9’s departure from Fukuoka, Japan through its journey via Mahia Peninsula, to its successful deployment into LEO. As we prepare for the launch of seven more QPS-SARs between this year and next year, I am reassured by the reliability and efficiency of Electron in executing missions like this one. And we are pleased to announce that ‘SUSANOO-I’ has successfully established initial communication after its orbital insertion. While we still have the initial operations ahead, including antenna deployment, we will proceed with the adjustments step by step towards achieving the first light.”