iQPS says QPS-SAR-18 “SUSANOO-II” set for Rocket Lab Electron launch from late August 2026
RKLB•QPS-SAR-18 launch plan
Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space outlined progress on its QPS-SAR small synthetic aperture radar satellite program ahead of a late-August 2026 launch.
QPS-SAR-18 “SUSANOO-II” is scheduled to launch on Rocket Lab’s Electron into a mid-inclined 575 km orbit.
Commercial and operational focus
Strategy focuses on all-weather imaging for stationary assets, extending to moving-object monitoring to support security, emergency response, and commercial analytics.
Satellite program and constellation targets
QPS-SAR uses a patented lightweight deployable antenna, targeting SAR satellites at 1/20 the weight, 1/100 the cost of conventional systems.
The company targets a 24-satellite constellation by May 2028, aiming for near real-time revisit intervals averaging 10 minutes.
