Verified facts grounded in source documentation.
Rocket Lab successfully launched a suborbital mission with its HASTE launch vehicle for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on November 18, 2025.
Astra won a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit worth up to $44,000,000 to support development of its Rocket 4 launch vehicle.
The DIU contract supports advancing and scaling production capabilities of Astra’s tactical launch system to achieve the prototype objective of launching Rocket 4 to orbit or suborbit from the United States, Australia, or other locations.
iDirect Government won a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to build an operational 0.005 kg co-channel interference mitigation solution prototype.
Lyten won a contract from DIU in spring 2020 under an "other transactions" agreement in which the government and the contractor co-invest in the project.
Under a Defense Innovation Unit contract, Astra Space plans to launch a test payload for the U.S. Space Force on its next attempt to reach orbit in August.