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 the launch window for its mission “RAISE And Shine”, the first of two dedicated Electron launches contracted directly with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The mission will lift from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and the launch window opens on December 5, 2025 (UTC). It will deploy JAXA’s RAISE-4 single satellite to demonstrate eight technologies from Japanese companies, universities, and research institutions. A second dedicated Electron for the same JAXA program is scheduled for Q1 2026. This flight is slated to be Rocket Lab’s 19th launch in 2025, reflecting an increasing Electron launch cadence.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed two Electron launches in two days from opposite hemispheres, setting a new annual company record of 18 Electron launches in 2025 with 100% mission success. The Follow My Speed mission launched from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on Nov 20, 2025 at 12:43 UTC (Nov 21, 2025 1:43 am NZDT) to deploy a payload for a confidential commercial customer.
Two days earlier the company launched from Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia — its third HASTE suborbital launch in 2025 and sixth suborbital Electron mission overall — highlighting a rapid, responsive launch cadence the company says rose 1,700% in less than a decade. More missions are scheduled before year end.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) said its next Electron mission, Follow My Speed, is scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a window opening 12:15 UTC on November 20, 2025 to carry a single satellite for a confidential commercial customer.
The liftoff comes less than 48 hours after a successful HASTE mission from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, marking Rocket Lab's 75th launch to date and surpassing its prior annual record of 16 missions; this next flight will bring the company to a record 18 launches in one year. The company said the rapid turnaround between hemispheres will again demonstrate its responsive launch capability.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched a suborbital HASTE mission for the Defense Innovation Unit and Missile Defense Agency on November 18, 2025 from Wallops Island, Virginia at 13:00 UTC/08:00 a.m. ET.
The mission deployed a government primary payload developed by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory plus multiple secondary payloads to test hypersonic and missile-defense technologies under DIU’s HyCAT program. Rocket Lab said the flight launched within 14 months of contract signing and was the company’s sixth HASTE mission since 2023. HASTE — a suborbital variant of Electron — can deliver payloads at speeds above 7.5 km/s and, combined with Electron, has deployed 200+ payloads for government and commercial customers to date.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) announced its two Explorer-class spacecraft built for NASA and UC Berkeley’s ESCAPADE mission launched Nov 13, 2025, and began their journey to Mars.
Rocket Lab established contact and reports the twins are generating power and will enter commissioning with orientation, solar-array deployment, avionics and propulsion checkouts. ESCAPADE will loiter near Earth–Sun L2 until a fall 2026 alignment, use an Earth gravity assist, and is scheduled to arrive at Mars in September 2027, with first science formation planned in 2028. From contract award to launch the spacecraft moved from design to completion in 3.5 years, enabled by Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated supply chain.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) reported Q3 FY2025 revenue of $155 million, a 48% year‑over‑year increase, and a record GAAP gross margin of 37%. The company secured 17 Electron launch contracts in Q3, is on track for 20+ launches this year, and completed the acquisition of Geost for up to $325 million. Rocket Lab exited the quarter with $1+ billion in liquidity, opened Launch Complex 3 for Neutron, and updated Neutron timing to arrival at LC‑3 in Q1 2026 pending qualification. Q4 guidance: revenue $170–180 million, GAAP gross margin 37–39%, adjusted EBITDA loss $23–29 million, and basic shares outstanding ~571 million.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully launched Electron mission F74, deploying a single synthetic aperture radar satellite QPS-SAR-14 (YACHIHOKO-I) to a 575km circular orbit on Nov 5, 2025.
This was Rocket Lab's 74th Electron launch, the company's 16th of 2025 (matching its 2024 yearly record), and the sixth dedicated mission for iQPS. Rocket Lab also announced an additional multi-launch agreement with iQPS, under which Electron will carry six more dedicated iQPS missions to expand the company's Earth-imaging constellation.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed its Photon spacecraft and cleared the Systems Integration Review (SIR) in September for Eta Space and NASA’s LOXSAT cryogenic fueling technology demonstration. Payload integration is finished and the mission will enter environmental testing ahead of a planned Electron launch in early 2026.
LOXSAT will test zero-loss liquid oxygen storage on orbit to inform a future Cryo-Dock propellant depot targeted for operation in 2030. The mission is sponsored by NASA’s Tipping Point program; Rocket Lab will provide both spacecraft and launch services using its Photon platform with flight heritage from CAPSTONE (2022).
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) will release its third quarter 2025 financial results after U.S. market close on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The company will host a conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific Time / 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with a live webcast and replay available on the company’s investor relations website at www.investors.rocketlabcorp.com. Investor and media contacts are provided for follow-up.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) scheduled a dedicated Electron launch for Japan-based iQPS; the mission window opens on November 5, 2025 UTC (local Nov 6 NZT).
The mission, named “The Nation God Navigates”, will be Electron's 74th launch and the company's 16th mission in 2025, deploying QPS-SAR-14 (YACHIHOKO-I) to a 575 km circular orbit. QPS-SAR-14 joins iQPS's SAR constellation; iQPS aims for a 36-satellite network providing near-real-time images every 10 minutes. Six additional dedicated iQPS launches are planned for 2026 and beyond. Rocket Lab says Electron has had 100% mission success this year.