WASHINGTON - Rocket Lab, the space company that makes launching things look almost routine, did it again on Aug. 20, sending another satellite into orbit for Japanese radar-imaging company iQPS. Because why stop at eight?\n\nAn Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 9:04 a.m. Eastern on a mission whimsically dubbed "The Lightning God Defends" - presumably to keep the weather gods on their toes. The target orbit was 575 kilometers up, with a 42-degree inclination, which is either precise orbital mechanics or a very specific yoga pose.\n\nThe payload, QPS-SAR-18, built by the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), separated from the kick stage about 50 minutes later. iQPS confirmed they made contact 40 minutes after deployment, and the satellite is reportedly operating properly - which is always nice to hear.\n\nThis marks the ninth Electron launch for iQPS overall, and the second in a row for the company. The previous one went up just two weeks earlier, on Aug. 6. At this rate, iQPS and Rocket Lab are practically carpool buddies.\n\niQPS is building a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, with dreams of 24 in orbit by May 2028 and 26 by 2030. They've been leaning heavily on Electron for the heavy lifting, with nine more launches already under contract. That's a lot of trust in a rocket that's about the size of a telephone pole.\n\nThis was the 14th Electron launch this year, including three suborbital HASTE missions. Rocket Lab is feeling confident they'll beat last year's company record of 21 Electron and HASTE missions - a record that, frankly, they set themselves, but we'll let them have this.\n\n"Electron and HASTE continue to lead the industry in small launch," CEO Peter Beck said during an Aug. 10 earnings call, "and on track to beat last year's launch tally, too." Beck is essentially the guy who predicts his own team will win, and then they do.\n\nDemand for Electron remains high, the company says. While specific pricing is a closely guarded secret, CFO Adam Spice admitted that average selling prices "have gone up pretty significantly over the years." So, you know, supply and demand - or just inflation hitting even the rocket industry.\n\nBeck also argued that the proven track record of Electron, which has now launched 93 times, is helping secure business for the bigger Neutron rocket, which hasn't flown yet. "We have a proven track record with Electron and HASTE, and customers know we develop and scale reliable launch vehicles, which is why they're coming to us now and locking in Neutron slots early." Because if you can launch 93 small rockets, you can definitely launch one big one - that's just math, right?