The service is taking the Rocket Systems Launch Program back to its customer-funded roots, but small launchers still have routes to work with the government.
The take-private deal marks a near-complete reversal from the $2.6 billion valuation that the startup sported when it became a publicly traded company.
Rocket Lab has signed a preliminary memorandum of terms with the Department of Commerce for up to $23.9 million in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act.
The launch of NASA’s second Prefire Earth science mission small satellite has been rescheduled due to an off-nominal liquid oxygen propellant detection.
Prefire joins more than two dozen current NASA Earth Science missions focused on studies of the planet’s oceans, ice, vegetation, atmosphere and landforms.
Liftoff of the Rocket Lab Electron rocket with the initial spacecraft from New Zealand is planned for 3:15 a.m. EDT, following the weather delay from May 22.