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Rocket Lab Corporation reports developments in launch services and space systems for civil, defense and commercial space customers. The company designs and manufactures Electron and Neutron launch vehicles, the Photon satellite platform, and spacecraft components used in missions for national security, scientific research, Earth observation, communications and other orbital applications.
Company news commonly covers launch contracts, mission awards, hypersonic test activity through HASTE, progress on Neutron, Space Systems products such as star trackers, and operating results tied to backlog, revenue and program execution. Updates also include defense partnerships, customer manifests, acquisitions that expand the space systems portfolio, and capital-structure matters.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced it will release fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results following the close of U.S. markets on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific / 5:00 p.m. Eastern the same day. A live webcast and replay will be available on Rocket Lab's Investor Relations website at www.investors.rocketlabcorp.com. Contact information for investor and media inquiries was provided.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced the arrival of its “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing at Wallops Island, Virginia, ahead of the Neutron rocket’s first flight. After qualifying late last year, the fairing was moved to Rocket Lab’s Neutron Assembly and Integration Complex for inspections and further pre-launch testing at Launch Complex 3. Neutron is described as a reusable carbon composite rocket capable of carrying up to 13,000 kg (33,000 lb) to space. The Hungry Hippo fairing halves remain attached for the full mission and open/close for second-stage deployment, a world-first approach intended to support rapid reuse and high-cadence commercial, civil, and national security launches.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed its first launch of 2026 and its 80th Electron launch on Jan. 22, 2026. The mission, "The Cosmos Will See You Now," lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia at 11:52 pm NZDT (10:52 UTC) and successfully deployed two satellites into a 1,050 km circular Earth orbit for first-time dedicated customer Open Cosmos.
Open Cosmos launched the first satellites in its new proprietary LEO Ka-band telecom constellation one week after securing high-priority Ka-band spectrum. Rocket Lab said Electron's higher-altitude capability demonstrates versatile payload trajectories and will support Open Cosmos' increasing annual satellite production.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) provided a Neutron development update after a Stage 1 tank rupture occurred during a hydrostatic pressure qualification test overnight on Jan. 21, 2026.
The company said testing failures can be part of qualification, that there was no significant damage to the test structure or facilities, and that the next Stage 1 tank is already in production while the team reviews test data to determine any impact to the Neutron launch schedule.
Rocket Lab intends to provide a Neutron schedule update on its 2025 Q4 earnings call in February.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed its final scheduled 2025 Electron launch on Dec 21, 2025, deploying QPS-SAR-15 for Japan-based iQPS and recording 21 Electron launches in 2025 with 100% mission success. The QPS-SAR-15 joins iQPS’s SAR constellation, expanding near-real time imagery across 12 orbits. Rocket Lab has now launched seven satellites for iQPS and cites five additional Electron launches planned from 2026. 'The Wisdom God Guides' was Electron mission F79 and the company's final scheduled launch for 2025; the next Electron launch is slated for early Q1 2026.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) was awarded an $816 million prime contract by the U.S. Space Development Agency on Dec 19, 2025 to design and build 18 Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) satellites for missile detection, including hypersonic threats.
The award is $806 million base plus up to $10.45 million in options and includes Rocket Lab’s Phoenix infrared payloads and StarLite space protection sensors. As a supplier to other TRKT3 primes, total capture value could reach approximately $1 billion. Combined with a prior $515 million SDA award, Rocket Lab now holds over $1.3 billion in SDA contract value.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched the STP-S30 mission on December 18, 2025, from LC-2 at MARS Wallops Island, lifting off at 12:03 a.m. (05:03 UTC).
The Electron mission, named “Don’t Be Such A Square,” deployed four DiskSat spacecraft to a 550 km low Earth orbit, completed five months ahead of schedule, and was awarded under the OSP-4 contract in April 2024. The flight was the company’s 20th launch of 2025 and 78th mission overall, marking four launches from LC-2 in three months and highlighting Rocket Lab’s rapid, responsive launch support for U.S. national security and defense technology programs.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) accelerated its Electron launch for the U.S. Space Force STP-S30 mission, moving liftoff to Dec 18, 2025 from an initial target of April 2026.
The mission, called “Don’t Be Such A Square,” will lift from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, deploy the first four DiskSats to a 550 km low Earth orbit, and test maneuverability, dispenser mechanics, and orbit changes using electric propulsion.
Rocket Lab said this will be Electron’s 20th launch of the year and 78th mission overall, and follows another recent LC-2 launch less than a month earlier.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched its first dedicated mission for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on December 14, 2025, lifting off at 03:09 UTC / 16:09 NZDT from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.
The Electron mission, named “RAISE And Shine”, deployed JAXA’s RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-4 (RAISE-4), carrying eight technology demonstrations from Japanese companies, universities, and research institutions. This was Rocket Lab’s 19th launch of 2025 and continues the company’s recent annual launch record. Rocket Lab noted a second dedicated JAXA mission set for Q1 2026 and a dedicated European Space Agency mission planned for the new year, underscoring continued international demand for Electron.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) expedited a dedicated Electron mission for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and scheduled liftoff in under 24 hours. The mission, Bridging The Swarm, is set to launch no earlier than December 11, 2025 at 00:45 UTC from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
The Bridging The Swarm mission will be Electron's 19th launch of 2025, and it now precedes the JAXA RAISE and Shine mission, scheduled no earlier than December 13, 2025 at 03:00 UTC. Rocket Lab said the rescheduling demonstrates operational efficiency, responsiveness, and flexibility while supporting a growing launch manifest and exceeding its 2024 tally of 16 missions.