Rocket Lab launches a satellite with an origami antenna for JAXA

Apr 23, 2026, 12:42

Introduction

On April 23, 2026, Rocket Lab launched a rocket for JAXA. The rocket put eight small satellites into space. One satellite had a special antenna. The antenna uses origami folding. It becomes 25 times bigger after it opens.

Main Body

The mission name is 'Kakushin Rising'. The rocket left at 3:09 PM from New Zealand. The satellites reached space after one hour. One satellite is a 10 cm cube. It opens into a 2.5 meter antenna. JAXA says this is a new way to make a light and small antenna. The antenna folds like a spiral. JAXA used origami folds before. The first fold was in 1970. They used it in space in 1995. The mission also had other satellites. One was for students. One was for watching the ocean. One was for testing cameras. This was the second Rocket Lab launch for JAXA. The first was in December 2025. The CEO of Rocket Lab said the two missions show the rocket is good for space agencies. He said they are happy to help Japan. This was the 8th launch for Rocket Lab in 2026. It was the 87th launch total. They plan more launches for Earth watching, technology tests, and security.

Conclusion

The origami antenna satellite worked well. Rocket Lab and JAXA worked together. They made small satellite technology better. The mission helps test new space technology from startups and universities.

Vocabulary Learning

antenna
A device that sends or receives signals天線
Example:One satellite had a special antenna.
fold
To bend something so one part covers another摺疊
Example:The antenna folds like a spiral.
launch
To send a rocket or ship into the sky or space發射
Example:Rocket Lab launched a rocket for JAXA.
satellite
A machine that goes around Earth in space衛星
Example:The rocket put eight small satellites into space.
small
Not big; little小的
Example:One satellite is a 10 cm cube, very small.

Sentence Learning

The antenna uses origami folding.
This sentence has a subject 'The antenna' and a verb 'uses'. The object is 'origami folding'. It describes what the antenna does.本句主語為'The antenna'，謂語動詞為'uses'，賓語為'origami folding'。句子描述天線的運作方式。
It becomes 25 times bigger after it opens.
This sentence uses 'It' as the subject, 'becomes' as the verb, and '25 times bigger' as the complement. The clause 'after it opens' tells when it happens.本句主語為'It'，動詞為'becomes'，補語為'25 times bigger'。從句'after it opens'說明發生的時間。
One satellite is a 10 cm cube.
This sentence has subject 'One satellite', verb 'is', and a noun phrase 'a 10 cm cube' as the complement. It describes the size and shape.本句主語為'One satellite'，動詞為'is'，名詞短語'a 10 cm cube'作為補語。句子描述衛星的大小和形狀。
JAXA says this is a new way to make a light and small antenna.
This sentence has subject 'JAXA', verb 'says', and a clause 'this is a new way...' as the object. The clause describes the opinion.本句主語為'JAXA'，動詞為'says'，從句'this is a new way...'作為賓語。從句表達觀點。
The origami antenna satellite worked well.
This sentence has subject 'The origami antenna satellite', verb 'worked', and adverb 'well' modifying the verb. It states the result.本句主語為'The origami antenna satellite'，動詞為'worked'，副詞'well'修飾動詞。句子說明結果。