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 USA is preparing to launch its 42nd Electron mission no earlier than 2023-12-15 between 17:00 and 19:00 NZDT (04:00–06:00 UTC).
Rocket Lab rescheduled the Electron launch of the iQPS GEO payload to late 2023-12-14 from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand due to inclement weather.
Rocket Lab targeted no earlier than 2023-12-15 UTC for the iQPS GEO launch with a two-hour daily window.
Rocket Lab will launch the TSUKUYOMI-I synthetic-aperture radar satellite for Japan-based Earth imaging company the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS).
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck described the Venus Life Finder mission as a lower priority project compared to other initiatives.
Rocket Lab's Venus Life Finder mission will use its Electron rocket to send a spacecraft into Earth orbit before proceeding to Venus, expected to arrive by May 2025.
The upcoming launch of the private mission Venus Life Finder by Rocket Lab could occur as soon as the end of 2024.
Rocket Lab USA signed a launch services agreement to launch an Earth observation satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on a rideshare mission in the first half of 2024.
The Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at KAIST intends to collaborate with Rocket Lab for the launch of NeonSat-1 as part of the NEONSAT microsatellite constellation program.
Rocket Lab signed a launch services agreement to launch an Earth observation satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology on a rideshare mission during the first half of 2024.
Capella Space will continue working with Rocket Lab to launch satellites into orbit.
NeonSat-1 will use Rocket Lab’s MLB satellite separation system in addition to being launched on Electron.
NorthStar was second in line to launch on Rocket Lab’s manifest before the September 2023 Electron failure.
Capella Space will continue working with Rocket Lab to launch satellites into orbit but has not disclosed dates for those launches.
Rocket Lab completed payload integration for its 42nd Electron launch and targeted no earlier than 2023-12-13 NZT for launch pending a wet dress rehearsal.
Capella Space signed a contract in February 2023 with Rocket Lab for four launches of its new line of Acadia satellites.
Each Rocket Lab contract launch will carry a single Acadia satellite with the four launches planned to occur in rapid succession starting in the second half of 2023.
NorthStar’s launch contract with Rocket Lab includes two additional missions of four satellites each intended to provide full commercial space situational awareness services designed to track objects as small as five centimeters in low Earth orbit and 0.4 m in geostationary orbit.
NorthStar pivoted to Rocket Lab for a fall launch but faced a delay after Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket failed in September 2023 to deploy an imaging satellite for Capella Space.
Capella Space will continue working with Rocket Lab to launch satellites into orbit.