Rocket Lab Usa Inc - RKLB STOCK NEWS

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has secured positions in two major defense contracts for hypersonic technology development. The company has been selected for the U.S. Air Force's $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC) running through 2031, and the UK Ministry of Defence's $1.3 billion Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF).

The company will leverage its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) launch vehicle, a modified version of their Electron rocket, to bid for contracts under both programs. HASTE features carbon fiber composite structures and 3D printed engines, with a payload capacity of up to 700 kg. The vehicle can deploy technologies at speeds exceeding 7.5km per second for testing various hypersonic applications.

HASTE has already completed three successful launches for the U.S. Department of Defense from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, including two launches within 21 days.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has unveiled its new Standardized Array (STARRAY) family of customizable solar arrays at the 40th Space Symposium. The STARRAY system can be tailored to meet satellite power requirements from 100 watts to over 2,000 watts, utilizing up to four panels per wing with radiation-hardened quadruple junction solar cells.

As the world's only vertically integrated solar array manufacturer, Rocket Lab produces everything from solar cells to fully integrated arrays. Their solar solutions currently power over 1,100 satellites in orbit, including critical missions like NASA's Artemis lunar explorations, the James Webb Space Telescope, and OneWeb's GEN1 broadband constellation.

The company aims to provide mission-specific customization with shorter lead times and reduced costs through pre-engineered solar array configurations, leveraging their 20+ years of flight heritage in space-grade solar solutions.

Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) has scheduled the release of its first quarter 2025 financial results after U.S. markets close on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The space launch services and systems provider will conduct a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on the same day. Investors can access both the live webcast and replay of the conference call through the company's Investor Relations website.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has unveiled its expanded suite of space-grade radio frequency (RF) communications systems, called Frontier radios. These flight-proven, software-defined radios are designed for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C), featuring over 13 years of flight heritage and available in L-, S-, C-, X-, and Ka-band models.

The Frontier radios, adapted from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's Frontier Lite radio, are compact, lightweight, and compatible with major ground stations including the Deep Space Network. They have been successfully deployed in various missions including NASA's CAPSTONE, Europa Clipper, and Rocket Lab's Photon Pathstone.

The radio system was selected as a 2024 R&D 100 Award recipient and will be utilized in upcoming projects, including Viasat's hybrid space communications network demonstrations for NASA's Communications Services Project.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has been selected by the U.S. Space Force to compete for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program, a contract with a maximum value of $5.6 billion through June 2029. The company will participate with its Neutron rocket, a 13-ton reusable carbon composite medium-lift launch vehicle capable of deploying payloads up to 13,000 kg.

As one of only five launch providers selected, Rocket Lab receives a $5 million task order for capabilities assessment. The NSSL program plans to award a minimum of 30 missions within its contracting period, with potential extension through 2034. Neutron's first launch is scheduled for the second half of the year from Launch Complex 3 in Wallops Island, Virginia, marking the first NSSL program launch from this region.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully completed its fifth launch of 2025, deploying eight satellites for German wildfire detection company OroraTech in a mission titled 'Finding Hot Wildfires Near You'. The launch occurred from Complex 1, Pad B in New Zealand on March 27, 2025.

The mission, executed within just four months of contract signing, deployed the satellites to a 550 km circular low Earth orbit. This marks Rocket Lab's 63rd launch overall, bringing their total satellite deployment count to 224, with 21 satellites deployed in Q1 2025 alone.

The launch represents OroraTech's constellation expansion, enhancing their global wildfire monitoring capabilities through advanced thermal sensors. This is Rocket Lab's third Electron launch within two weeks, demonstrating increased launch cadence as they target 20+ launches in 2025.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has announced a rapid-turnaround mission named 'Finding Hot Wildfires Near You' for OroraTech, scheduled to launch on March 27th UTC from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The mission, contracted just four months ago, will deploy eight Constellation Phase 1 satellites to a 550km orbit.

The satellites will enhance OroraTech's wildfire detection and monitoring capabilities, utilizing AI-driven analytics and thermal infrared cameras to provide near-real-time data for first responders, governments, and stakeholders worldwide. This deployment aims to improve global wildfire response and protection of people, forests, and infrastructure.

This mission marks Rocket Lab's fifth launch of 2025 and 63rd Electron launch overall. Upon completion, Electron will have delivered a total of 224 satellites to space.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully completed its fifth and final dedicated Electron launch for French IoT constellation operator Kinéis, deploying the last 5 satellites of a 25-satellite constellation to Low Earth Orbit. The 'High Five' mission launched from Mahia, New Zealand on March 18, 2025, marking Rocket Lab's fourth launch of 2025 and 62nd Electron launch overall.

The entire Kinéis constellation deployment was accomplished in less than a year through five dedicated launches. The satellites, positioned at 650 km orbit, will enable IoT connectivity and object location tracking worldwide, supporting applications like forest fire detection, water resource management, infrastructure monitoring, and logistics tracking.

Kinéis plans to launch its commercial IoT satellite connectivity services on June 1st. This mission demonstrates Rocket Lab's ability to provide rapid constellation deployment with customer-selected launch parameters for optimal coverage.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully deployed its third Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries' W-3 mission, launched on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This deployment comes just 15 days after the successful re-entry of Varda's W-2 mission.

The Pioneer spacecraft supports Varda's 120kg manufacturing capsule, providing essential functions including power, communications, and propulsion. The capsule is designed for in-space manufacturing of pharmaceutical products in microgravity conditions. The mission leverages Rocket Lab's vertically integrated spacecraft components and subsystems.

This marks Rocket Lab's third mission for Varda, following W-1's successful completion in February 2024 and W-2's landing in South Australia on February 27, 2025. The fourth contracted Pioneer spacecraft is currently in final assembly at Rocket Lab's Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, California.