Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company and launch service provider, specializing in small satellite launches with its Electron rocket, which has launched 63 times as of April 2025. They are also developing the larger Neutron rocket for constellation deployment. Rocket Lab provides complete space solutions including satellite design and manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management, serving commercial, civil, and defense markets, with major partners including NASA and the US Space Force. Key products include the Electron and Neutron rockets, Photon satellite bus, and various satellite components.
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The SolAero merger is Rocket Lab’s third proposed acquisition announced in 2021 following the acquisition of ASI Aerospace LLC in October 2021 and the completion of Planetary Systems Corporation in December 2021.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire SolAero Holdings, Inc. for $80,000,000 in cash.
BlackSky’s satellites delivered first insights in less than 18 hours after the 2021-12-08 Rocket Lab launch.
A Rocket Lab launch on 2021-12-08 deployed BlackSky satellites as part of the company’s mission operations.
BlackSky reached 12 satellites in orbit after losing two spacecraft in May in a failed Rocket Lab mission.
Following the Rocket Lab launch on 2021-12-08, BlackSky’s satellites delivered first insights in less than 18 hours.
The addition of SolAero’s 425-strong team brings Rocket Lab’s total headcount to more than 1,100 employees across facilities in California, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, Toronto, New Zealand, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rocket Lab announced a contract with Synspective for three launches in 2022 and 2023 one day before the 2021-12-08 launch.
Rocket Lab launched a pair of BlackSky satellites on 2021-12-08.
Rocket Lab launched Synspective’s first satellite, StriX-α, in December 2020.
Pandemic restrictions in New Zealand put Rocket Lab launches on hold between the late 2021-07-01 return-to-flight mission and the 2021-11-18 BlackSky launch.
Rocket Lab launches in 2021 supported operations in Earth observation, weather monitoring, and Internet-of-Things and enabled technology demonstrations in maritime surveillance, quantum computing, advanced AI, communications, and deployable sensors.
Rocket Lab has deployed seven satellites to low Earth orbit for BlackSky on missions across 2019 and 2021.
Rocket Lab has deployed a total of 109 satellites to orbit.
Rocket Lab successfully deployed a Photon spacecraft to space earlier in 2021.
Due to a change in the launch schedule of the Soyuz-2 rocket, StriX-β will be launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket in early 2022.
Rocket Lab pioneered the use of carbon composite for orbital rockets with the Electron rocket, which has operated since 2018.
Rocket Lab launched the mission Love at First Insight from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on 2021-11-18.
The acquisition enables Planetary Systems Corporation to use Rocket Lab’s resources and manufacturing capability to grow its commercial hardware business and continue serving satellite customers launching on other launch vehicles.
The U.S. Space Force awarded Rocket Lab $24,300,000 in September to support work on Neutron’s upper stage.