HASTE | Prometheus Run (VAN)
Electron •
📝 Mission Description
This Electron launch carries the HASTE | Prometheus Run (VAN) mission, scheduled for November 18, 2025. The mission aims to deliver important payloads to orbit, contributing to our understanding of space and advancing technological capabilities.
ℹ️ Official Details
Sub-orbital launch under Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program.
This mission was lead by MDA and deployed a government-provided primary payload developed by the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), and multiple secondary payloads by federal and industry partners, which tested key technologies for missile defense applications.
The mission was contracted to Rocket Lab through the DIU’s Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) program, an initiative supporting test and evaluation of new and emerging hypersonic technologies through low cost, responsive and long endurance flight testing.
🎯 Post-Launch Analysis
Post-Launch Analysis: HASTE | Prometheus Run (VAN) – November 18, 2025
The HASTE | Prometheus Run (VAN) mission, launched via Rocket Lab’s Electron under the Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program, achieved a successful sub-orbital flight and payload deployment. Technical performance was exemplary, with the Electron rocket demonstrating precise trajectory control and robust system reliability, affirming its adaptability for hypersonic test profiles. The primary payload, developed by JHUAPL for MDA, along with multiple secondary payloads from federal and industry partners, was deployed as planned, validating critical missile defense technologies under real-world conditions.
This mission, contracted through DIU’s HyCAT program, provided invaluable data for hypersonic technology maturation. Engineering lessons include confirmation of Electron’s scalability for high-cadence testing and payload integration efficiency. Strategically, Prometheus Run reinforces Rocket Lab’s role in responsive, low-cost hypersonic testing, paving the way for accelerated development of national defense capabilities in future missions.