Rocket Lab

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Lockheed Martin and the UK Space Agency say they are assessing plans for how to deliver the Pathfinder space launch from the UK.
Commercial Space

By Matthew Fulco
As of midday on Nov. 14, Rocket Lab shares were trading at $17.77.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Under the contract, Rocket Lab will launch two dedicated missions for the commercial customer beginning in mid-2026 from Wallops Island, Virginia.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Matthew Fulco
Shaky business models have nowhere to hide in public markets, while several stronger space startups are finding a way forward.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The flight, which will take place from Rocket Lab’s Mahia, New Zealand Launch Complex, will be the 12th Electron mission of the year.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall, Thierry Dubois
Chinese and Russia anti-satellite capabilities are driving Western militaries to pursue better situational awareness and countermeasures.
Satellites

By Vivienne Machi
The Space Development Agency is about to put the first operational satellites in its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture on orbit.
Satellites

By Vivienne Machi
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.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Vivienne Machi
NASA’s two Mars-bound Escapade spacecraft will fly on the inaugural launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
Space

By Matthew Fulco
Lockheed is both a key investor in Terran, with a 28.3% stake in the company, and its largest customer.
Commercial Space

By Matthew Fulco
Long Beach, California-based Rocket Lab recorded sales of $106 million, up 71% year-on-year, in the April-June period.
Space

By Vivienne Machi
The Pentagon is exploring using commercial launch vehicles for point-to-point delivery by the 2030s.
Space

By Michael Bruno
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.
Commercial Space

By Vivienne Machi, Irene Klotz
The newcomer joins incumbents ULA and SpaceX on the Space Force’s launch vendor list.
Space

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab will provide 10 Electron launches to deploy an Earth observation network for Japan’s Synspective, which is building an SAR constellation.
Commercial Space

By Matthew Fulco
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.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
The Electron's launch was followed 53 min. later by deployment of "Prefire and Ice" into a 326-mi.-high orbit.
Space

By Mark Carreau
The launch of NASA’s second Prefire Earth science mission small satellite has been rescheduled due to an off-nominal liquid oxygen propellant detection.
Space

By Mark Carreau
Prefire joins more than two dozen current NASA Earth Science missions focused on studies of the planet’s oceans, ice, vegetation, atmosphere and landforms.
Space

By Mark Carreau
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.
Space

By Mark Carreau
The first of the two Prefire satellites is planned for launch on May 22.
Space

By Michael Bruno
The first launch of Rocket Lab’s proposed medium-lift Neutron is slipping to no earlier than mid-2025 due to development of its Archimedes engine.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab and its partner, True Anomaly, will conduct rendezvous and proximity operations as part of the demonstration.
Space Symposium