Mission Success: Rocket Lab Launches 2nd Hypersonic Test Mission in Three Months for Defense Innovation Unit

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched its HASTE hypersonic test mission "That’s Not A Knife" on Feb 27, 2026 (00:00 UTC). The flight deployed Hypersonix's scramjet-powered DART AE into a suborbital hypersonic environment and marks the second DIU hypersonic mission in three months.

The launch is the 7th HASTE flight, Rocket Lab's 82nd overall, and continues a 100% mission-success record for the HASTE program.

Positive

• 100% mission success across all HASTE launches
• 7 HASTE launches completed in under two years
• Deployed Hypersonix DART AE into suborbital hypersonic environment
• Second DIU hypersonic mission in three months
• Rocket Lab's 82nd launch overall, demonstrating operational cadence

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

24h Price Change: -4.89% Today’s Volume: 25,082,290 shares 20-day Avg Volume: 17,790,937 shares +5 more

8 metrics

24h Price Change -4.89% Move during session before hypersonic launch news

Today’s Volume 25,082,290 shares Trading volume on day of DIU hypersonic mission news

20-day Avg Volume 17,790,937 shares Average trading activity over prior 20 sessions

52-week High 99.58 Upper end of 52-week trading range

52-week Low 14.71 Lower end of 52-week trading range

HASTE Launch Count 7 launches Total HASTE hypersonic test missions to date

HASTE Success Rate 100% mission success All HASTE hypersonic launches completed successfully

Total Launches 82 launches Electron/HASTE combined launches after this mission

Market Reality Check

Price: $69.10 Vol: Volume 25,082,290 is 41% ...

normal vol

$69.10 Last Close

Volume Volume 25,082,290 is 41% above the 20-day average of 17,790,937, indicating elevated trading activity ahead of this news. normal

Technical Price at 69.1 is trading above the 200-day MA of 52.9, reflecting a longer-term uptrend despite the recent pullback.

Peers on Argus

RKLB fell 4.89% while key Aerospace & Defense peers like ESLT, CW, BWXT, TXT and...

RKLB fell 4.89% while key Aerospace & Defense peers like ESLT, CW, BWXT, TXT and WWD were all up between 0.71% and 1.15%, pointing to a stock-specific move rather than a sector-wide decline.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 12 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 12	Hypersonic mission update	Positive	+2.2%	Announced upcoming HASTE hypersonic test for DIU and Hypersonix.
Jan 29	Satellite launch success	Positive	-6.5%	Completed 81st Electron launch deploying Korean Earth-imaging satellite.
Jan 26	Earnings date announcement	Neutral	+8.1%	Set date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results release.
Jan 26	Neutron rocket progress	Positive	+8.1%	Hungry Hippo Neutron fairing arrived at Virginia site for first flight prep.
Jan 22	Launch success	Positive	+0.2%	Completed first 2026 launch, 80th Electron, for new customer Open Cosmos.

Pattern Detected

Operational launch and technology milestones have often seen positive reactions, but there is at least one notable divergence where a successful launch coincided with a sharp decline.

Recent Company History

Over recent months, Rocket Lab has reported multiple operational milestones, including hypersonic HASTE tests, successful commercial launches, and progress on the Neutron rocket. News on Feb 12 about the upcoming HASTE hypersonic mission drew a modest gain, while a successful Korean satellite launch on Jan 29 coincided with a larger selloff. Earlier in January, Neutron fairing progress and an earnings date announcement both saw strong positive moves. Today’s completed DIU hypersonic mission fits this pattern of frequent, successful launches tied to national security customers.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores Rocket Lab’s growing role in hypersonic testing for the Defense Innova...

Analysis

This announcement underscores Rocket Lab’s growing role in hypersonic testing for the Defense Innovation Unit, with 7 HASTE launches and a 100% success rate contributing to its 82 total missions. Recent history shows frequent launch successes and Neutron progress alongside record 2025 revenue and backlog. Investors may track how recurring defense missions translate into sustained growth while the company manages ongoing net losses and continued capital requirements disclosed in recent filings.

Key Terms

hypersonic, scramjet-powered, suborbital, launch complex

4 terms

hypersonic technical

"suborbital hypersonic flight environment at several times the speed of sound."

Hypersonic describes vehicles or weapons that travel at speeds greater than about five times the speed of sound (roughly over 3,800 mph), moving so fast they behave differently from ordinary aircraft. For investors it matters because development and deployment drive demand for specialized materials, engines, guidance systems and testing services, shaping defence and aerospace spending, supply chains and company valuations; think of it as the difference between a car and a supersonic bullet in terms of technical challenge and cost.

scramjet-powered technical

"The mission deployed DART AE, a scramjet-powered aircraft developed by Australian..."

Powered by a scramjet means a vehicle uses an engine that burns fuel while air passes through at speeds faster than sound, allowing sustained hypersonic flight without carrying heavy oxygen tanks. For investors, “scramjet-powered” signals a technology with potentially transformative markets in defense and fast transport but also very high development costs, specialized materials, regulatory hurdles and uncertain timelines, so it carries both high potential upside and elevated technical and execution risk.

suborbital technical

"into a suborbital hypersonic flight environment at several times the speed of sound."

A suborbital flight or trajectory reaches space but does not achieve the speed or path needed to circle the Earth; it follows a high arc and then falls back to the surface, like throwing a ball so hard it briefly leaves your neighborhood but returns. Investors track suborbital activity because businesses offering short space rides, scientific payloads, or related services face different technical risks, regulations, timelines, and revenue models than companies pursuing full orbital launches.

launch complex technical

"from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 within the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s..."

A launch complex is a dedicated site and the supporting buildings, equipment and control systems where rockets and spacecraft are prepared and sent into space; think of it as an airport tailored for rocket launches. Investors watch launch complexes because their availability, safety record, regulatory approvals and maintenance costs directly affect a space company’s ability to generate launch revenue, meet schedule commitments and form customer or government contracts.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its latest hypersonic test mission on its HASTE rocket for the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) – supporting a critical national priority to advance hypersonic technology for the United States and its allies.

“That’s Not A Knife” lifted off on February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern (February 28, 00:00 UTC) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 within the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia – the second successful launch of a hypersonic test mission for the DIU in three months and 7th HASTE launch overall. The mission deployed DART AE, a scramjet-powered aircraft developed by Australian aerospace engineering firm Hypersonix, into a suborbital hypersonic flight environment at several times the speed of sound.

With 100% mission success across all HASTE launches, Rocket Lab is helping to shape a new era of hypersonic systems testing with speed and precision, lower costs, and a modern test platform that serves the Department of War’s critical technology priorities. In under two years since its inaugural launch, HASTE has rapidly established itself as a premier commercial test platform for hypersonic systems. By combining Rocket Lab’s unmatched operational speed and cadence with the versatility to support diverse mission profiles within a single test platform, HASTE is driving significant advancements in hypersonic innovation and technology readiness for the nation.

Rocket Lab’s Vice President Global Launch Services, Brian Rogers, says: “This launch is another proud moment for the HASTE team and a great showcase of the important commercial platform it has become for the Department of War. Regular and reliable HASTE launches are helping to accelerate hypersonic readiness for the nation, and we take pride in providing the foundation to a new era of testing of this critical technology to protect the United States space security.”

Hypersonix CEO, Matt Hill, says: “This mission is a major milestone for Hypersonix and our flight test program. Successfully flying DART AE in a real hypersonic environment validates years of disciplined engineering and preparation by our team. Launching aboard Rocket Lab’s HASTE vehicle enabled us to execute the mission with speed and precision. This flight moves us from ground-based validation into true hypersonic operations and brings us closer to delivering reusable hypersonic capability that is operationally relevant for our partners and allies.”

“That’s Not A Knife” is Rocket Lab’s third launch of the year with 100% mission success and 82nd launch overall, maintaining the global superiority of Rocket Lab’s small-lift launch capabilities across government and commercial missions.

Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com

About Rocket Lab
About Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is a leading space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket; its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations; and its Neutron launch vehicle in development will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security missions including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange (RKLB). Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

FAQ

What did Rocket Lab (RKLB) launch on Feb 27, 2026?

Rocket Lab launched the HASTE mission "That’s Not A Knife" deploying Hypersonix's DART AE. According to the company, the flight put the scramjet-powered aircraft into a suborbital hypersonic test environment, advancing hypersonic systems testing for the Defense Innovation Unit.

How does the Feb 27 RKLB launch affect the HASTE program record?

The launch extended HASTE's perfect success record to 100% across all flights. According to the company, this was the 7th HASTE flight and reinforces the platform's reliability for rapid hypersonic testing.

How many HASTE and total launches has Rocket Lab completed as of Feb 27, 2026?

As of Feb 27, 2026 Rocket Lab reported seven HASTE launches and 82 launches overall. According to the company, HASTE reached this cadence in under two years since its inaugural launch.

What payload did RKLB carry for the Defense Innovation Unit on Feb 27, 2026?

Rocket Lab deployed the DART AE scramjet aircraft developed by Hypersonix on the DIU mission. According to the company, the payload achieved suborbital hypersonic flight to validate flight operations in a real hypersonic environment.

Is the Feb 27, 2026 HASTE flight part of a larger DIU testing program?

Yes, the flight is part of ongoing DIU hypersonic testing and is the second DIU hypersonic mission in three months. According to the company, regular HASTE launches accelerate national hypersonic readiness and technology validation.

What milestone did Hypersonix achieve with the RKLB Feb 27, 2026 launch?

Hypersonix successfully flew its DART AE in a real hypersonic environment, marking a major test milestone. According to the company, the flight shifts Hypersonix from ground validation toward operational hypersonic flight capability.