Rocket Lab Usa Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully completed its third mission for Japanese customer iQPS, launching the QPS-SAR-10 Earth-imaging satellite into a 575km low Earth orbit. The mission, named 'The Sea God Sees,' launched from Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on May 17th, 2025. This launch follows just weeks after their previous iQPS mission on March 15, 2025, demonstrating Rocket Lab's capability for frequent and reliable orbital launches.

The launch is part of a multi-launch contract to deploy eight missions for iQPS across 2025 and 2026, with four more launches scheduled for 2025 and two for 2026. The next iQPS mission is scheduled for June 2025. The successful deployment of QPS-SAR-10 (WADATSUMI-I) marks iQPS's 10th satellite, contributing to their growing constellation of synthetic aperture radar Earth-imaging satellites.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has been selected by NASA to launch the Aspera astrophysics mission, scheduled for Q1 2026 from Launch Complex 1. The mission will utilize Rocket Lab's Electron rocket to deploy a spacecraft equipped with a telescope designed to study ultraviolet light in the intergalactic medium. As NASA's first astrophysics mission focused on mapping ultraviolet signatures between galaxies, Aspera aims to enhance understanding of galaxy evolution and star formation.

This contract, awarded through NASA's VADR program, adds to Rocket Lab's portfolio of NASA missions, including the successful CAPSTONE lunar mission, TROPICS hurricane monitoring launches, and the PREFIRE climate study mission. The Aspera mission is part of NASA's Pioneers Program, which focuses on cost-effective astrophysics research.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has achieved a significant milestone by completing two Earth return missions in two months with its Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries. The company successfully supported the return of Varda's W-3 capsule on May 14, 2025, marking their third successful operation in the W-series missions.

The Pioneer spacecraft, designed and built by Rocket Lab, hosted Varda's 120kg capsule for 60 days in orbit, providing critical functions including power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control. This follows the successful W-1 mission in February 2024 (the first space manufacturing mission outside the ISS) and W-2 mission in March 2025. The fourth spacecraft in the series is currently under development at Rocket Lab's facility.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to launch its new Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket for a Rocket Cargo mission in 2026. The mission, part of the REGAL solicitation, will demonstrate point-to-point cargo transportation and re-entry capabilities for global defense logistics.

The Neutron rocket, capable of deploying 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit, is designed for constellation deployments, national security missions, and science payloads. The rocket's launch pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, is nearing completion, with production and testing of components, including the Archimedes engine, progressing steadily. Neutron's inaugural flight is scheduled for the second half of 2025.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reported strong Q1 2025 financial results with revenue of $123 million, representing a 32% year-over-year growth. The company provided Q2 2025 guidance with expected revenue between $130-$140 million.

Key achievements include being selected for the $5.6 billion NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program by the U.S. Space Force, successfully launching five Electron missions, and announcing plans to acquire Mynaric for European expansion. The company also plans to implement a new holding company structure, Rocket Lab Corporation, while maintaining its RKLB ticker on Nasdaq.

The company expanded its space systems portfolio with new standardized products including the STARRAY solar arrays and Frontier radios. Additionally, Rocket Lab secured contracts for its HASTE launch vehicle through two major government programs: the U.S. Air Force's $46 billion EWAAC and the UK MOD's $1.3 billion HTCDF.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has announced its next mission, 'The Sea God Sees', scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on May 17, 2025. The mission will deploy a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite, QPS-SAR-10 (WADATSUMI-I), to a 575km circular Earth orbit for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS).

This launch represents Rocket Lab's third overall mission for iQPS and marks the second of eight dedicated launches planned across 2025-2026 to complete iQPS's constellation. The previous mission, 'The Lightning God Reigns', was successfully completed on March 15, 2025. This upcoming launch will be Rocket Lab's sixth mission of 2025 and its 64th Electron launch overall, bringing their total satellite deployment count to 225.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has secured a contract from Kratos to conduct a full-scale hypersonic test flight for the Department of Defense under the MACH-TB 2.0 program, valued at $1.45 billion. The mission will launch from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 in Virginia no earlier than Q1 2026, using their HASTE rocket.

HASTE, a suborbital variant of the Electron rocket, can carry payloads up to 700 kg and deploy technologies at speeds exceeding 7.5km per second. The platform has already completed three successful DOD launches, including two within 21 days.

The company has also been included in the $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC) under the US Air Force and the UK Ministry of Defence's £1 billion Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF).

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.