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 OSP-4 contract vehicle was created in October 2019 and initially selected eight companies: Aevum, Firefly, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, VOX Space, and X-Bow Launch.
Rocket Lab will launch the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand in 2021-10-01.
The CAPSTONE mission was originally slated to launch from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 in Virginia but will instead launch from Launch Complex 1 to support a Q4 launch window.
CAPSTONE will launch on Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle and deploy from Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform.
Rocket Lab will launch the CAPSTONE mission on an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand in the fourth quarter.
When Rocket Lab won the NASA contract to launch CAPSTONE in February 2020, Rocket Lab planned to launch the mission from Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island, Virginia.
Rocket Lab has completed 17 commercial orbital launches to date, including a 2021-07-29 launch of a U.S. Space Force satellite.
Rocket Lab’s Photon satellite bus will deliver CAPSTONE into a trajectory toward the Moon.
Rocket Lab’s Electron two stages performed normally and the kick stage deployed the Monolith satellite 52 minutes after liftoff into a 600-kilometer orbit at an inclination of 37 degrees.
Rocket Lab is in the final stages of completing a merger with Vector Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company announced in March.
The Rocket Lab merger with Vector Acquisition Corp. would provide Rocket Lab with $750,000,000 in capital and value the company at $4,100,000,000.
The mission named 'It’s a Little Chile Up Here' launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 06:00 UTC / 18:00 NZT on 2021-07-29.
The Electron launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 2 a.m. Eastern on 2021-07-29.
The Electron rocket failed to reach orbit in a 2021-05-15 launch from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab declared the 2021-05-15 Electron vehicle lost about a half-hour after the launch anomaly.
Rocket Lab made changes to work instructions and quality signoffs as part of broader reliability improvements after the July 2020 failure.
Rocket Lab concluded an extensive review into the cause of the anomaly that resulted in the loss of the company’s Running Out Of Toes mission launched on 2021-05-15.
Rocket Lab identified the root cause of the 2021-05-15 Electron launch failure on 2021-07-19 and declared the vehicle ready to return to flight.
Five companies that announced SPAC deals between October 2020 and March 2021—BlackSky, Momentus, Redwire, Rocket Lab, and Spire—are scheduled to close their deals later in 2021.
Rocket Lab is a United States-owned but New Zealand-based space company estimated to be worth more than US$1,200,000,000.