Mission Success: Rocket Lab Launches 2nd Hypersonic Test Mission in Three Months for Defense Innovation Unit
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched its HASTE hypersonic test mission "That’s Not A Knife" on Feb 27, 2026 (00:00 UTC).
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.
Details
News Market Reaction – RKLB
On Mar 2, the first trading day after this news, RKLB closed 2.71% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 2 session.
Key Figures
- 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
Historical Context
-
Announced upcoming HASTE hypersonic test for DIU and Hypersonix.
-
Completed 81st Electron launch deploying Korean Earth-imaging satellite.
-
Set date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results release.
-
Hungry Hippo Neutron fairing arrived at Virginia site for first flight prep.
-
Completed first 2026 launch, 80th Electron, for new customer Open Cosmos.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
hypersonic technical
scramjet-powered technical
suborbital technical
launch complex technical
small-lift launch technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. 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
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
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.
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