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 will launch a dedicated mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Launch Complex 2 in Wallops, Virginia during a launch window that opens 2024-03-20.
Rocket Lab previously launched four National Reconnaissance Office missions from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.
Rocket Lab’s advanced spacecraft development and manufacturing complex features a 10,000-square-foot cleanroom and 40,000 square feet of production and test facilities designed to support constellation-class manufacturing and satellite assembly, integration, and test for commercial, civil, and national security customers.
Rocket Lab designed, manufactured, and operated a bespoke spacecraft to enable Varda’s capsule manufacturing demonstration.
Varda is preparing a second mission that will also use a Rocket Lab spacecraft and is scheduled to launch in summer 2024.
The Varda capsule was part of a Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft that launched in June 2023 on SpaceX’s Transporter-8 rideshare mission.
Rocket Lab’s advanced spacecraft development and manufacturing complex features a 10,000-square-foot cleanroom and 40,000 square feet of production and test facilities.
The next Rocket Lab spacecraft for Varda is scheduled to launch before the end of 2024.
Rocket Lab performed two Synspective launches in 2022, in February and September.
Rocket Lab will launch a dedicated mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Launch Complex 2 in Wallops, Virginia during a launch window that opens 2024-03-20.
Synspective plans to expand its business through multiple launches in 2024 as part of its multi-launch agreement with Rocket Lab.
Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has delivered 177 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations.
Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron large launch vehicle for constellation deployment.
Rocket Lab’s Electron has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually since its first orbital launch in January 2018.
Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and the first private commercial mission to Venus.
Rocket Lab operates three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia.
Rocket Lab received final perigee, apogee, and inclination parameters from Astroscale 20 days before the ADRAS-J launch.
The ADRAS-J spacecraft was launched from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on 2024-02-18 at 2:52 pm UTC.
On Closer Inspection launched from Pad B at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 03:52 NZDT on 2024-02-19 (14:52 UTC, 2024-02-18).
Astroscale Japan launched the ADRAS-J satellite from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on 2024-02-18 at 2:52 pm UTC.