Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.
Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.
| Year | Historical missions | Forecast launches |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| 2027 | 0 | 3 |
| 2028 | 0 | 5 |
| 2029 | 0 | 6 |
| 2030 | 0 | 8 |
| 2031 | 0 | 8 |
| 2032 | 0 | 10 |
| 2033 | 0 | 10 |
| 2034 | 0 | 10 |
| 2035 | 0 | 12 |
| 2036 | 0 | 12 |
| 2037 | 0 | 12 |
| 2038 | 0 | 12 |
| 2039 | 0 | 12 |
| 2040 | 0 | 12 |
| 2041 | 0 | 12 |
Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.
| Variant | Orbit | Capacity | Altitude | Inclination | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neutron | LEO | 15,000 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Rocket Lab Reusable Rockets |
Neutron | LEO | 13,000 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Rocket Lab Neutron |
Latest launched missions using variants in this family.
| Mission | Variant | Launch |
|---|---|---|
No recent missionsNo launched missions are linked to variants in this family. | ||
Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.
| Mission | Variant | Announced |
|---|---|---|
No forecasted missionsNo upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family. | ||
Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.
| Variant | Stages | Missions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Neutron | Not stated | 0 | Development |
1 launch location represented.
| Year | Location | Launches | Confidence | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 1 | 35% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron is targeted for debut in late 2026; use early operational ramp, not mature medium-lift cade... |
| 2027 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 3 | 35% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2028 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 5 | 35% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2029 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 6 | 30% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2030 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 8 | 30% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2031 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 8 | 30% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2032 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 10 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2033 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 10 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2034 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 10 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2035 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2036 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2037 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2038 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2039 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2040 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. |
| 2041 | Wallops Flight Facility / MARS | Launch Complex 3 | 12 | 25% | Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated. Site-... |
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron is targeted for debut in late 2026; use early operational ramp, not mature medium-lift cadence.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: Neutron cadence below previous 16/year upper curve until regular operations are demonstrated.
Neutron |
| LEO |
| 8,000 kg |
| Unknown |
| Unknown |
| Rocket Lab Reusable Rockets |
Neutron | escape | 1,500 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Rocket Lab Neutron Payload User Guide |
Neutron is the world’s first medium-lift carbon composite rocket and builds on Rocket Lab’s carbon composite techniques used across more than 50 Electron launches.
The combined thrust of nine Archimedes engines for Neutron’s first stage is designed to reach 657,708 kg-force total.
Rocket Lab is developing the medium-lift reusable Neutron rocket to launch constellations of satellites, national security and defense missions, and interplanetary missions from mid-2025.
Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket to launch constellations of satellites, national security and defense missions, and interplanetary missions from mid-2025.
Rocket Lab is developing a larger reusable launch vehicle called Neutron with plans to bring it to market by mid-2025.
Rocket Lab completed carbon composite flight structures for Neutron’s fairing panels, Stage 1 and Stage 2 tanks, and the reusable Stage 1 structure.
Neutron’s dedicated launch site infrastructure at Wallops Island, Virginia includes completed foundation concrete works for Neutron’s launch mount and propellant and gas storage facilities and installation of a 84.7 m water tower.
Rocket Lab previously planned a Neutron first launch around the end of 2024, a timeline affirmed during a February 2024 earnings call.
Rocket Lab anticipates spending $250,000,000 to $300,000,000 on development of the Neutron launch vehicle.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment.
Neutron’s first stage will use nine Archimedes engines for a combined total thrust of 1,450,000 lbf.
Rocket Lab expects Neutron’s first launch to take place no earlier than mid-2025.
Rocket Lab is constructing Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island, Virginia for Neutron operations.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle.
Rocket Lab has a $24,350,000 contract with Space Systems Command to support development of Neutron's upper stage.
Rocket Lab is working with Space Systems Command under a $24,350,000 contract to support development of Neutron’s upper stage.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron large launch vehicle for constellation deployment.
Rocket Lab has a $24,350,000 contract with Space Systems Command to support development of Neutron’s upper stage.