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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Ecliptic Enterprises handled the payload integration for the NABEO hosted payload as a pathfinder for its hosted-payload agreement with Rocket Lab.
Rocket Lab signed a memorandum of understanding with Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation regarding hosted payloads on Electron launches.
The 10 dedicated Electron launches are planned to take place either from Rocket Lab’s existing New Zealand launch site or from a United States launch site that Rocket Lab plans to develop.
Through Venture Class Launch Services, NASA awarded contracts in 2015 to send cubesats into orbit with Rocket Lab, Virgin Galactic, and Firefly Space Systems.
Rocket Lab is planning as many as 16 Electron launches in 2019.
Rocket Lab plans a December Electron mission for NASA to fulfill a Venture Class Launch Services contract the company won in 2015.
Rocket Lab’s 2019 schedule includes at least one launch from a U.S. launch site the company plans to develop over the next year.
Rocket Lab’s Electron uses RP-1 as fuel while Orbex’s Prime uses propane.
Rocket Lab owns and operates Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.
Rocket Lab scheduled a final decision on the location of Launch Complex 2 for August 2018.
Rocket Lab will use current and anticipated manifest demand for specific orbits as one factor in its Launch Complex 2 site selection process.
Rocket Lab will construct its own infrastructure for Launch Complex 2 rather than using an existing facility at the selected spaceport.
Rocket Lab said it would start construction of Launch Complex 2 immediately after selecting a site and expected the site to be completed and ready to host its first launch in the second quarter of 2019.
Rocket Lab will consider construction and operation costs and regulatory issues as factors in selecting the Launch Complex 2 site.
Rocket Lab selected Cape Canaveral, Florida; Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia as four potential locations for a U.S. launch site for its Electron rocket.
Rocket Lab rescheduled the mission for 2025-06-22 (2018-06-23 local time), before postponing that attempt due to a problem with a downrange tracking station.
Spaceflight bought a dedicated Electron launch in 2017 and has not scheduled that mission.
Spaceflight Inc. signed on 2018-06-11 as the anchor customer for three Electron launches from Rocket Lab.
Spaceflight’s first Electron launch is slated for late 2018, followed by the second and third in early 2019, each launching from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand spaceport.
Rocket Lab planned its third Electron launch no earlier than 2018-06-22.