The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8)
Rocket Lab's Electron is set to launch The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8) no earlier than August 2026 from Unknown Pad, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. The countdown above is shown in your local timezone; the status updates live as the flight moves from To Be Confirmed to Go, and if it slips or scrubs. Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.
See it in person — plan a viewing trip
Watching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand? Here's how to make the trip — book a room, grab a viewing tour, and bring something to see liftoff up close.
Gear that makes liftoff and stage separation worth the trip:
Full in-person viewing guide → · Is this launch visible from your location? →
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Where to watch The Lightning God Defends (iQPS Launch 8)
Rocket Lab carries the official webcast on its own channel. When the stream link is published we surface it here, and embed the player on launch day. For the full rundown of where every provider streams — and how to catch it in your timezone — see how to watch a rocket launch live. New to the jargon? The launch glossary explains scrub, hold, MECO and the rest.