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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Rocket Lab debuted on the Nasdaq exchange on 2021-08-25 after completing its merger with Vector Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Rocket Lab is focused in the near term on a series of upcoming Electron launches, including three consecutive launches for geospatial intelligence company BlackSky arranged by Spaceflight starting late 2021-08.
Rocket Lab plans to use the $777,000,000 raised from the SPAC merger to support new initiatives such as the Neutron medium-class rocket.
Rocket Lab stock closed down 9.85% at $10.45 per share on its first day of trading on 2021-08-25.
The DiskSat design is based on the payload volume of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket but can be modified for larger vehicles like Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne.
Both Photon spacecraft for ESCAPADE incorporate satellite subsystems developed and manufactured by Rocket Lab, including star trackers, reaction wheels, ranging transceivers for deep space navigation, and in-space propulsion systems.
Rocket Lab is developing several missions beyond Earth orbit using the Photon spacecraft, including the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon in support of NASA’s Artemis program and a privately funded science mission to Venus.
Rocket Lab’s announced deal value was $4.1 billion, which equals 9.1x 2024 revenue.
Vector shareholders voted to approve Vector’s proposed merger with Rocket Lab USA, Inc. at Vector’s annual general meeting of shareholders held on 2021-08-20.
Vector Acquisition Corporation shareholders voted on 2021-08-20 to merge the SPAC with Rocket Lab.
Rocket Lab reported a net loss of $15,900,000 in the first quarter of 2021.
Rocket Lab reported a net loss of $55,000,000 in 2020 in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Rocket Lab will receive approximately $777 million, before transaction expenses, from the SPAC and a private investment in public equity (PIPE) round.
On 2021-03-01, Rocket Lab proposed a merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation and disclosed intent to develop a medium-class launch vehicle called Neutron.
Spaceflight Inc. is managing three consecutive dedicated Rocket Lab launches for its customer BlackSky.
Spaceflight’s first of the three launches, RL-8, is Rocket Lab’s vehicle coined “Love At First Insight” and is slated to launch the last week of August from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab announced plans to build the Neutron launch vehicle with a reusable first stage intended to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Spaceflight’s RL-8, coined "Love At First Insight" by Rocket Lab, is the first of the three BlackSky launches and is slated to launch the last week of August from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab signed a rideshare agreement with Scottish/American PocketQube satellite manufacturer Alba Orbital to launch a cluster of smallsats.
Rocket Lab signed a contract with Aurora Propulsion Technologies on 2021-08-16 to launch the AuroraSat-1 spacecraft on an Electron in the fourth quarter of 2021.