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.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Rocket Lab previously launched an Electron booster with a previously flown Rutherford engine in August 2023.
NorthStar signed a launch contract with Rocket Lab for a fall 2023 launch that was delayed after an Electron launch failure in September 2023.
Rocket Lab launched the first four satellites for NorthStar Earth and Space on 2025-01-31.
Rocket Lab scheduled a manifest of 22 Electron launches for 2024, including two HASTE missions used for suborbital flights.
On 2024-01-31, Rocket Lab launched the 'Four Of A Kind' mission, its first Electron mission of 2024, for Spire Global and NorthStar from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 19:34 NZDT / 06:34 UTC.
Rocket Lab used the 2024-01-31 launch to test its ability to recover Electron boosters.
Exolaunch will deploy four NorthStar Earth & Space satellites built by Spire Global on a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle.
SDA has ordered 190 satellites for Transport Layer Tranche 2: 100 Alpha satellites to be manufactured by Northrop Grumman and York Space Systems and 90 Beta satellites to be produced by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Rocket Lab USA.
The Four Of A Kind mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2024-01-27 between 19:15-20:00 NZT (2024-01-27 between 06:15-07:00 UTC) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
All 18 T2TL - Beta satellites will integrate subsystems and components built in-house by Rocket Lab, including solar panels, structures, star trackers, reaction wheels, radio, flight software, avionics, and launch dispensers.
The Four of a Kind mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2024-01-18 between 19:15 and 20:00 NZT (2024-01-18 between 06:15 and 07:00 UTC) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab will build the T2TL - Beta satellites at its advanced spacecraft development and manufacturing complex within the company’s Long Beach headquarters.
Rocket Lab has been selected by the Space Development Agency to design and build 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites (T2TL - Beta).
The Four of a Kind mission will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab’s Long Beach spacecraft development and manufacturing complex includes a 12,000-square-foot cleanroom and 40,000 square feet of production and test facilities.
Rocket Lab is the third supplier for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 2 Beta satellites, which are projected to launch in mid-2027.
The Space Development Agency awarded a firm-fixed-price Other Transaction Authority agreement to Rocket Lab National Security LLC to deliver and operate a T2TL – Beta prototype constellation in two orbital planes of nine satellites each, launching no later than July 2027.
Rocket Lab will act as prime contractor under a $515,000,000 firm-fixed-price agreement to lead the design, development, production, test, and operations of the 18 T2TL – Beta satellites, including procurement and integration of the payload subsystems.
Rocket Lab operates a Space Systems business that manufactures components and spacecraft for government and commercial customers.
Rocket Lab’s Long Beach facility includes a 12,000-square-foot cleanroom and 40,000 square feet of streamlined production and test facilities designed to support constellation-class manufacturing and satellite assembly, integration, and test.