Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock gained about 6% on Friday after the company disclosed a new contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This new deal closely follows another major deal with Japan’s iQPS announced earlier this week. These agreements reflect Rocket Lab’s growing role in the global space market.
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The latest contract includes two launches from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site and supports JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program, which tests technologies developed by Japanese private firms, universities, and research institutions.
The first mission, planned for December 2025, will launch JAXA’s RAISE-4 satellite. Meanwhile, the second mission in 2026 will carry a total of eight small spacecraft, including educational small satellites and an ocean monitoring satellite.
Expanding Footprint in Japan
In addition to the JAXA deal, Rocket Lab has secured several other multi-launch contracts recently, particularly with Japanese satellite operators. On October 7, RKLB revealed a launch deal with the Japanese Earth-imaging company, iQPS.
This agreement includes three Electron missions starting in 2026, bringing the total number of upcoming launches for iQPS to seven.
Moreover, the company disclosed an additional 10-launch contract with Synspective, another Japanese Earth observation firm, last month. This deal brings Synspective’s total planned Electron missions to 21. It must be noted that Rocket Lab is the exclusive launch provider for Synspective’s satellites.
These back-to-back wins reflect Rocket Lab’s rising momentum in the global launch market, especially in Japan’s fast-growing space sector.
Is Rocket Lab a Good Stock to Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on Rocket Lab stock based on nine Buys and four Holds assigned in the past three months. Further, the average RKLB price target of $49.27 per share implies 28.07% downside risk.
