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 |
Achieving full operational capability for New Glenn and Neutron is central to the Department of Defense’s Sovereign Space Resilience strategy.
Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron launch vehicle to serve medium lift missions for constellation deployment, national security payloads, and exploration campaigns.
Hungry Hippo was transported to Rocket Lab’s Neutron Assembly and Integration Complex at Wallops Island.
Engineers and technicians at Rocket Lab will complete inspections of Hungry Hippo and prepare the fairing for further pre-launch testing at Neutron’s launch and test site.
Neutron’s fairing halves open and close for second-stage deployment within a matter of seconds.
Neutron is capable of launching up to 13,000 kg of payload and cargo to space.
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island is the nearby launch and test site for Neutron’s pre-launch testing.
Neutron is intended to support missions involving national security, space science and human exploration, and constellation deployment for satellite internet and Earth observation.
Neutron is designed to be a reusable carbon-composite rocket.
The ‘Hungry Hippo’ captive fairing for Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket has arrived at Wallops Island, Virginia.
Rocket Lab reported a rupture during qualification testing of the Stage 1 tank for its Neutron rocket.
Qualification testing of the Neutron Stage 1 tank during a hydrostatic pressure trial resulted in a rupture at Launch Complex 3 in Wallops Island, Virginia.
Rocket Lab’s hiring surge is timed to support final integration and testing of the first Neutron vehicle.
Rocket Lab’s next Neutron Stage 1 tank is already in production.
The Rocket Lab team is reviewing the Stage 1 test data to determine the extent of the impact to Neutron’s launch schedule.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) released recruitment data on January 22, 2026 showing a significant surge in hiring targeting its Neutron rocket program and its Space Systems division.
Neutron’s development campaign continues while the team assesses the Stage 1 test outcome.
Rocket Lab is on track for a Neutron debut launch from Virginia by the end of 2026.
Qualification testing of the Neutron Stage 1 tank resulted in no significant damage to the test structure or facilities.
Rocket Lab’s recruitment is distributed across several key strategic hubs to support Neutron production and Space Systems expansion.