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 launched satellites for Canon and Planet on an October 2020 Electron mission.
Rocket Lab plans the next Electron first-stage recovery attempt on a launch in early 2021.
Rocket Lab entered 2020 with the goal of launching up to 12 Electron rockets.
Rocket Lab deployed Synspective’s StriX-α satellite to a 500 km circular orbit on the 17th Electron mission.
The 17th Electron mission increased Rocket Lab’s total number of deployed payloads to 96.
Rocket Lab performed an advanced mid-mission maneuver with its Kick Stage space tug to shield StriX-α from the sun and reduce radiation exposure ahead of payload deployment.
The mission named 'The Owl’s Night Begins' launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula at 10:09 UTC on 2020-12-15.
Synspective originally contracted Arianespace to launch StriX-α on a Vega rocket but signed a contract with Rocket Lab in April after Vega launch schedule delays caused by a July 2019 Vega launch failure.
NASA awarded VCLS contracts in the original 2015 program to Firefly Space Systems, Rocket Lab, and Virgin Galactic.
Rocket Lab carried out its VCLS mission in December 2018, launching 10 cubesats for NASA.
Rocket Lab’s 2020-12-12 Electron mission will be a dedicated mission for Japanese company Synspective carrying the StriX-α synthetic aperture radar satellite.
Rocket Lab scheduled the next launch of its Electron small launch vehicle for a 14-day window that opens 2020-12-12 from the company’s New Zealand launch site.
Rocket Lab pursued reusability as a means to increase its flight rate without expanding its factory and to potentially reduce costs and change smallsat launch economics.
Rocket Lab will incorporate improvements from the 2020-11-19 test into the next recovery test on an Electron launch scheduled for early 2021.
Rocket Lab identified the thermal protection system at the base of the first stage as an area for improvement after the 2020-11-19 recovery.
On 2020-11-19 the Electron first stage made a controlled reentry, released a drogue and a main parachute, and splashed down about 400 km downrange from Rocket Lab's New Zealand launch site where it was recovered by a boat.
Rocket Lab planned on 2020-11-05 to attempt reentry of the first stage, deploy a drogue parachute and a main parachute, and splash the stage down in the Pacific Ocean about 400 km downrange from the launch site.
Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket on 2020-11-19.
Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket on 2020-11-19, placing 29 smallsats into orbit.
Rocket Lab successfully launched the 16th Electron mission 'Return to Sender' on 20 November 2020 at 15:20 UTC.