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 successfully launched the Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) satellite for DARPA on 2019-03-28.
The Space Test Program awarded Rocket Lab the STP-27RD mission in October 2017.
Rocket Lab’s 2019 manifest is full and its 2020 manifest is filling up even with a higher planned cadence of launches.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Rocket Lab a contract for several missions in 2019 as part of an effort to use commercial suppliers and rapid procurement methods in space programs.
Rocket Lab previously advertised a payload capacity of 150 kg to sun-synchronous orbit for the Electron rocket.
The Rocket Lab launch is one of five launches planned in 2019 under the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative.
Rocket Lab is developing a second launch pad at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport that should be ready to host its first launch before the end of the year.
All Rocket Lab Electron launches to date have taken place from Rocket Lab’s launch site in New Zealand.
Of the $14,500,000 allocated to RALI in fiscal year 2017, $5,700,000 went to Rocket Lab for a dedicated launch mission.
Rocket Lab plans to build and launch rockets every month in 2019 to increase its launch cadence.
Rocket Lab planned the R3D2 mission as the first of 12 launches the company expected to carry out in 2019.
Rocket Lab launched an experimental satellite for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on 2019-03-28.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s private launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 7:27 p.m. Eastern on 2019-03-28.
Rocket Lab expects to increase its launch rate over 2019 to reach a total of 12 launches.
Rocket Lab postponed its first launch of the year from late February to the second half of March due to the delayed arrival of its payload.
Most of Rocket Lab's planned 2019 launches will take place from LC-1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab plans to perform 12 launches in 2019, with the R3D2 mission as the first.
By the end of 2019, Rocket Lab expects to be launching Electron rockets at a rate of one every two weeks.
Spaceflight has an agreement with Rocket Lab to fly payloads on three Electron launches that were scheduled for late 2018 and early 2019 but have not taken place yet.
Space Angels characterized 2018 as the Year of Small Launch after Rocket Lab completed its first three orbital launches.