Rocket Lab successfully launched eight Japanese spacecraft on April 23, 2026, carrying a diverse payload manifested by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The Kakushin Rising mission delivered educational small satellites, an ocean monitoring satellite, and FSI-SAT2, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras. The mission also deployed OrigamiSat-2, an innovative satellite featuring a deployable antenna using origami folding techniques that can expand to 25 times its packed size, showcasing advanced materials engineering for compact satellite design.

The Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula in the early morning hours, placing all eight satellites into sun-synchronous orbit. The eight payloads included MAGNARO-II, KOSEN-2R, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, Mono-Nikko, ARICA-2, and PRELUDE, representing various scientific and educational objectives.

This successful launch marked a significant achievement after the original mission faced delays. The satellites were initially scheduled to launch aboard Japan's Epsilon-S rocket under the RAISE-4 mission, but persistent test firing failures forced a manifest change to Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle. The successful deployment demonstrates continued confidence in small launch vehicle capabilities for diverse payloads and reinforces Rocket Lab's role in supporting international space agencies.