Rocket Lab Completes Spacecraft Commissioning for NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars Mission
Rhea-AI Summary
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed commissioning of the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft for UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, with both satellites now operating at the Earth–Sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2) and ready for handover to UCB-SSL on Feb 26, 2026.
Launched Nov 2025, the Blue and Gold spacecraft executed two trajectory correction maneuvers and are loitering near L2 (~1.5 million kilometers), after Rocket Lab moved from concept to launch readiness in just over three years using vertically integrated, in-house spacecraft production.
Positive
- Commissioning completed for both ESCAPADE spacecraft on Feb 26, 2026
- Spacecraft positioned near Earth–Sun L2 (~1.5 million kilometers)
- Launch to readiness achieved in just over three years from concept
- Vertical integration with key components built in-house enabled rapid delivery
Negative
- None.
Market Reaction – RKLB
Following this news, RKLB has declined 6.38%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -4.4% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner has triggered 52 alerts so far, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $68.02. This price movement has removed approximately $2.48B from the company's valuation.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus (15 min delayed). Upgrade to Silver for real-time data.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
RKLB is up 0.33% while key peers are mixed: ESLT -1.24%, CW -2.66%, BWXT +0.67%, TXT -2.87%, WWD -1.38%. No peers show momentum scanner activity, indicating today’s action appears stock-specific rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 | Hypersonic test mission | Positive | +2.2% | Announcement of upcoming HASTE hypersonic test mission for Defense Innovation Unit. |
| Jan 29 | Korean satellite launch | Positive | -6.5% | Successful Electron launch placing KAIST NEONSAT-1A into low Earth orbit. |
| Jan 26 | Earnings date set | Neutral | +8.1% | Announcement of date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results release. |
| Jan 26 | Neutron fairing progress | Positive | +8.1% | Arrival of Hungry Hippo fairing at Virginia site ahead of first Neutron flight. |
| Jan 22 | First 2026 launch | Positive | +0.2% | Completion of 80th Electron launch deploying two satellites for Open Cosmos. |
Operational and launch milestones have often led to positive price reactions, though one recent launch success saw a notable negative divergence.
Over the past months, Rocket Lab has reported a series of operational milestones, including multiple successful Electron launches and preparations for hypersonic testing, plus progress on the Neutron rocket’s “Hungry Hippo” fairing. These updates often coincided with meaningful price moves, such as +8.1% on Neutron fairing news and -6.55% after a Korean satellite launch. Today’s ESCAPADE commissioning fits this pattern of execution-focused news supporting the company’s broader space-systems strategy.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock is down -6.4% following this news. A negative reaction despite successful ESCAPADE commissioning would fit past divergences where positive operational news did not prevent declines, such as the -6.55% move after the KAIST satellite launch. In such cases, broader concerns or prior gains may have dominated. Recent regulatory filings also show ongoing insider sales, which can contribute to pressure even when technical and mission milestones are achieved.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the successful completion of commissioning for the twin Rocket Lab-built satellites for the University of California Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory’s (UCB-SSL) Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission.
With both spacecraft now fully commissioned and successfully operating at the Earth–Sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2), Rocket Lab is preparing to hand over operational control to UCB-SSL, who will lead science operations at L2 and prepare the mission for its cruise to Mars.
Under contract from UCB-SSL, Rocket Lab was selected to design, build, and provide commissioning operations of the two high delta-V Explorer-class interplanetary spacecraft for ESCAPADE. Rocket Lab moved from concept to launch readiness in just over three years, proving commercial collaboration can deliver important science key to supporting future human and robotic exploration of Mars on ambitious schedules and for significantly smaller budgets than typical interplanetary missions. This speed was made possible through Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated spacecraft production, with key components including solar arrays, reaction wheels, propellant tanks, star trackers, radios, avionics, and flight software designed and built in-house.
Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in November 2025, the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, known as Blue and Gold, completed spacecraft commissioning and executed two precise trajectory correction maneuvers, placing both spacecraft into their loiter trajectory near L2, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
“ESCAPADE proves what’s possible when government, university and commercial teams come together with ambition, drive, and determination to do things differently,” said Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck. “Rocket Lab designed and built two Mars spacecraft on a timeline most would call impossible. We have established a long track record of relentless execution across launch, spacecraft development, and complex deep space missions. ESCAPADE is yet another example of the Rocket Lab team delivering mission success for NASA and our mission partners. With Blue and Gold now positioned for their cruise to Mars, we’re laying the groundwork for NASA's long term objectives at Mars. The science ESCAPADE unlocks will be crucial to designing the infrastructure needed for a lasting human presence on the Red Planet, including a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. This is just the beginning.”
About ESCAPADE: The mission will study how the solar wind strips molecules from Mars’ atmosphere offering insight into the planet’s atmospheric escape history and space weather environment and informing future human exploration strategies. The ESCAPADE spacecraft will continue operating in proximity to Earth, near L2, until November 2026, allowing UCB-SSL to test its science instruments and collect early heliophysics data in the Earth’s magnetotail, the elongated region of the magnetosphere stretched downstream by the solar wind.
In November 2026, both spacecraft will perform a gravity assist maneuver around Earth to slingshot toward Mars. Blue and Gold are scheduled to arrive at Mars in September 2027, with science operations expected to begin in 2028.
Rocket Lab Media Contact
media@rocketlabusa.com
+ 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, 2025, 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 www.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.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ac9e4cd-db5c-4ba7-9f52-75d67ceafe9c
FAQ
What did Rocket Lab (RKLB) announce about ESCAPADE spacecraft commissioning on Feb 26, 2026?
Where are the ESCAPADE spacecraft positioned after commissioning for RKLB and UCB-SSL?
When were the ESCAPADE satellites launched and what are the next steps for RKLB mission handover?
How quickly did Rocket Lab (RKLB) take ESCAPADE from concept to launch readiness?
What role did Rocket Lab's vertical integration play in the ESCAPADE mission delivery?
What will UCB-SSL do after receiving operational control of ESCAPADE from RKLB?
