The Tundra and Taiga will be produced at NordSpace’s Markham facility.

NordSpace is working with local contractors on the Burin Peninsula and elsewhere in Newfoundland and Labrador.

NordSpace’s first Taiga launch attempt took place in August 2025.

NordSpace has a new production facility in Markham, Ontario.

NordSpace operates the Canadian Space Research Range, a private 50-acre propulsion test range in eastern Ontario.

NordSpace’s Hadfield engine uses dual combustion chambers.

NordSpace’s planned launcher family includes the suborbital Taiga, the small-lift Tundra, the medium-lift Tundra+, and the reusable medium-lift Tempest.

The Taiga launch attempt exposed a liquid oxygen supply issue.

NordSpace has modified the Tundra’s length and diameter to create the Tundra+ variant.

NordSpace’s Hadfield engine uses kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants.

NordSpace’s space-systems portfolio includes Zephyr-EP thrusters and a Chronos camera.

Qingzhou-1 is scheduled to launch in early 2027.

Qingzhou-1 is planned to dock with the Tiangong space station.

Iridium reported $871.7 million in revenue and $495 million in operational EBITDA in 2025.

Iridium provides an alternative PNT architecture for environments where GPS and other GNSS signals are degraded or unavailable.

The acquisition implies an enterprise value of approximately $8.0 billion for Iridium.

Rocket Lab’s space systems portfolio includes the Electron small launch vehicle, the in-development Neutron medium-lift rocket, and a satellite manufacturing business that has produced spacecraft for government and commercial customers.

The combined Rocket Lab-Iridium company plans to prioritize direct-to-device services under the Iridium NTN Direct brand, next-generation constellation development, and defense applications in denied or degraded communications environments.

Iridium holds globally coordinated L-band spectrum and provides voice, data, positioning, navigation, and timing services.

The transaction will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Wells Fargo and PJT Partners are advising Rocket Lab on the Iridium acquisition.

The stock exchange ratio in the Rocket Lab-Iridium transaction is subject to a collar banded between $67.50 and $112.50.

The Rocket Lab-Iridium deal is expected to close in mid-2027, pending Iridium stockholder approval and regulatory clearances.

Iridium’s 2025 operational EBITDA margin was 57%.

Iridium stockholders will receive $27.00 in cash plus Rocket Lab common stock for each share they hold under the merger terms announced June 29.

Evercore is the exclusive financial advisor to Iridium on the transaction.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. is serving as legal counsel to Rocket Lab on the Iridium acquisition.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to Iridium on the transaction.

Rocket Lab plans to supplement the bridge term loan with cash from its balance sheet and additional debt and equity financing.

Iridium operates a LEO satellite constellation supporting more than 2.55 million active subscribers across government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial markets.

Deutsche Bank Securities is the lead financial advisor to Rocket Lab on the Iridium acquisition.

Rocket Lab Corporation has agreed to acquire Iridium Communications Inc. in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $54 per share.

The boards of both companies unanimously approved the Rocket Lab-Iridium transaction.

Rocket Lab has secured commitments for a $3.6 billion 364-day senior secured bridge term loan facility from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo to fund the cash component of the Iridium acquisition.

Rocket Lab VICTUS HAZE exceeded the previous TacRS record set by VICTUS NOX by more than 10 hours.

Rocket Lab established a prior record in 2024 by launching two Electron missions from different hemispheres in less than 24 hours.

Rocket Lab launched VICTUS HAZE from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 22:19 NZT on 19 June.

Pioneer incorporates internally developed propulsion, solar panels, reaction wheels, radios, star trackers, structures, propellant tanks, and flight software.

Rocket Lab used an Electron rocket to place the internally developed Pioneer spacecraft into orbit during VICTUS HAZE.

Rocket Lab VICTUS HAZE was conducted for the Space Systems Command of the U.S. Space Force through the Space Safari Program Office in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit.

In low Earth orbit, the VICTUS HAZE spacecraft began rendezvous and proximity operations to simulate approaching and tracking a non-cooperative satellite.

Rocket Lab VICTUS HAZE was the first TacRS mission demonstrated with a single prime contractor responsible for design, production, integration, launch, and on-orbit operations.

Rocket Lab is purchasing Iridium Communications, a mobile satellite service provider.

Rocket Lab plans to build on Iridium Communications’ network to scale into untapped markets and pioneer new space-based services.

Rocket Lab identifies PNT, IoT, defense and government, aviation and marine, direct-to-device, and mission services as target markets for expansion.

NASA awarded the launches under the VADR contract on June 25.

The Rocket Lab launches will carry the PolSIR and TSIS-2 missions.

Rocket Lab has completed almost 90 launches and deployed more than 260 satellites.

VADR is a NASA program for acquiring launch services for small satellites with a maximum contract value of $300 million.

TSIS-2 will succeed the TSIS-1 instrument currently mounted outside the International Space Station.