Electron | Raise and Shine (RAISE-4)
Electron •
📝 Mission Description
This Electron launch carries the Electron | Raise and Shine (RAISE-4) mission, scheduled for December 14, 2025. The mission aims to deliver important payloads to orbit, contributing to our understanding of space and advancing technological capabilities.
ℹ️ Official Details
RAISE-4 (RApid Innovative payload demonstration Satellite-4) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite for on-orbit demonstrations of 15 demonstration components and equipment selected by public solicitation. The satellite will be operated in response to requests from the demonstration theme proposers, and will provide experimental data of the demonstration devices and environmental data during the experiments.
6 of the demonstration payload, as well as as well as 4 cubesats originally planned to ride on the same launch vehicle, are re-flight of those planned for RAISE-3, which failed to reach orbit in October 2022.
The launch vehicle was switched from Epsilon-S to Rocket Lab's Electron due to continuous testing problems with the Epsilon-S' 2nd stage motor. The original 8 hitch-hiking cubesats will be launched on another Electron rocket later.
🎯 Post-Launch Analysis
Post-Launch Analysis: Electron | Raise and Shine (RAISE-4)
The successful launch of RAISE-4 on December 14, 2025, aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket marks a significant achievement for JAXA and the global small satellite community. Electron executed a flawless ascent, achieving precise orbital insertion and deploying the RAISE-4 satellite alongside its 15 innovative demonstration payloads. This mission also facilitated the re-flight of 6 payloads and 4 CubeSats originally intended for the ill-fated RAISE-3 mission, demonstrating resilience in mission planning.
Technically, Electron’s performance validated its reliability as a contingency launch vehicle after JAXA pivoted from the troubled Epsilon-S due to persistent second-stage motor issues. Payload deployment was nominal, with RAISE-4 now positioned to collect critical experimental and environmental data. This mission underscores Electron’s adaptability for rapid, responsive launches, offering engineering lessons in risk mitigation and system redundancy. Strategically, it strengthens JAXA-Rocket Lab collaboration, paving the way for future small-payload missions and reinforcing Electron’s role in the evolving launch market.