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.

The two PolSIR launches are scheduled for June 2027 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.

Rocket Lab secured a NASA contract for three dedicated Electron launches in 2027.

PolSIR includes two 16U CubeSats built by Blue Canyon Technologies.

The TSIS-2 launch is scheduled for early 2027 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.

TSIS-2 will be built by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems.

NASA originally expected TSIS-2 to fly as a rideshare payload on a SpaceX Falcon 9.

PolSIR will fly its two CubeSats in separate 52-degree-inclination orbits.

NASA also has contracts for the astrophyics mission Aspera and the technology demonstration mission Loxsat, which will use a Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft.

NASA reassigned TSIS-2 to a dedicated Rocket Lab Electron launch.

Iridium operates approximately 80 cross-linked low Earth orbit satellites using globally harmonized L-band radio frequency spectrum.

The boards of directors of Rocket Lab and Iridium unanimously approved the acquisition.

The acquisition combines Rocket Lab’s small-to-medium launch assets and satellite manufacturing facilities with Iridium’s operational commercial low Earth orbit network.

Iridium provides voice, data, and Internet of Things connectivity for remote maritime, aviation, and defense applications.

Iridium operates an active global constellation that supports more than 2.55 million active commercial and government subscribers.

Iridium stockholders will receive $27.00 in cash and a variable number of Rocket Lab common stock shares in the transaction.

Iridium reported $495 million in Operational EBITDA in fiscal year 2025.

Rocket Lab Corporation and Iridium Communications Inc. entered into a definitive agreement on June 29, 2026 under which Rocket Lab will acquire all outstanding shares of Iridium common stock.

The stock portion of the Rocket Lab–Iridium transaction will use a net exchange ratio based on Rocket Lab’s 10-day volume-weighted average price at closing, with a collar ranging from $67.50 to $112.50 per share.

The Rocket Lab–Iridium acquisition is projected to close in mid-2027, subject to stockholder approval, FCC license transfer consents, and Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearances.

Rocket Lab has secured a $3.6 billion 364-day senior secured bridge term loan facility from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo to help finance the cash portion of the transaction.

Iridium generated $871.7 million in total revenue in fiscal year 2025.

The Rocket Lab–Iridium transaction values Iridium at $54.00 per share and approximately $8.0 billion in aggregate enterprise value.

Iridium’s asset base includes a dedicated positioning, navigation, and timing layer that can serve as an alternative encryption-safe PNT reference when GPS or GNSS signals are jammed, degraded, or unavailable.

SatVu’s planned constellation is intended to lower revisit times and support up to 20 daily observations over high-value strategic targets globally.

HotSat-2 operates in both daytime and nighttime conditions.

SatVu has a commercial agreement with Kongsberg to supply thermal data for geospatial and intelligence applications.

HotSat-2 has a spatial resolution of 3.5 meters.

SatVu’s total equity funding reached £60 million ($80 million) after the NATO Innovation Fund investment.

HotSat-2 produces static imagery and thermal video clips lasting up to 60 seconds.