Rocket Lab Completes Spacecraft for Cryogenic Fueling Mission with Eta Space and NASA
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) ha completato il modulo Photon e ha superato la Systems Integration Review (SIR) a settembre per Eta Space e per la dimostrazione della tecnologia di rifornimento criogenico LOXSAT della NASA. L'integrazione del payload è terminata e la missione entrerà nei test ambientali in vista di un lancio Electron all'inizio del 2026.
LOXSAT testerà lo stoccaggio di ossigeno liquido senza perdite a bordo per informare un futuro deposito di propellente Cryo-Dock previsto per l'operazione nel 2030. La missione è sponsorizzata dal programma NASA’s Tipping Point; Rocket Lab fornirà sia la navicella che i servizi di lancio utilizzando la piattaforma Photon con l'esperienza di volo di CAPSTONE (2022).
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completó la nave espacial Photon y aprobó la Systems Integration Review (SIR) en septiembre para Eta Space y la demostración de tecnología de abastecimiento criogénico LOXSAT de la NASA. La integración de la carga útil ha terminado y la misión pasará a las pruebas ambientales antes de un lanzamiento Electron a principios de 2026.
LOXSAT probará el almacenamiento de oxígeno líquido sin pérdidas en órbita para informar un futuro depósito de propulsor Cryo-Dock destinado a operar en 2030. La misión está patrocinada por el programa NASA’s Tipping Point; Rocket Lab proporcionará tanto la nave espacial como los servicios de lanzamiento utilizando su plataforma Photon con experiencia de vuelo de CAPSTONE (2022).
Rocket Lab (나스닥: RKLB)은 Photon 우주선의 완성을 발표했고 9월에 Eta Space와 NASA의 LOXSAT 극저온 추진 기술 시연을 위한 시스템 통합 검토(SIR)를 통과했습니다. 페이로드 통합이 마무리되었으며 미션은 환경 테스트로 들어가 2026년 초 Electron 발사를 예정대로 진행될 예정입니다.
LOXSAT은 궤도에서 손실 없는 액체 산소 저장을 시험해 향후 Cryo-Dock 연료 저장소의 운용을 위한 정보를 제공합니다. 운용은 2030을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 이 미션은 NASA의 Tipping Point 프로그램의 후원으로 진행되며 Rocket Lab은 CAPSTONE (2022)의 비행 이력을 갖는 Photon 플랫폼을 사용해 우주선과 발사를 제공합니다.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq : RKLB) a terminé le vaisseau Photon et a franchi la Revue d’intégration système (SIR) en septembre pour Eta Space et la démonstration de la technologie de ravitaillement cryogénique LOXSAT de la NASA. L’intégration de la charge utile est terminée et la mission entrera dans les essais environnementaux en prévision d’un lancement Electron début 2026.
LOXSAT testera le stockage d’oxygène liquide sans perte en orbite pour éclairer un futur dépôt de propergol Cryo-Dock prévu pour fonctionner en 2030. La mission est sponsorisée par le programme NASA’s Tipping Point; Rocket Lab fournira à la fois le vaisseau spatial et les services de lancement en utilisant sa plateforme Photon avec un héritage de vol de CAPSTONE (2022).
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) hat das Photon-Raumfahrzeug abgeschlossen und die Systems Integration Review (SIR) im September für Eta Space und die Demonstration der LOXSAT-Kryogen-Lieferungstechnologie von NASA bestanden. Die Payload-Integration ist abgeschlossen und die Mission wird Umweltprüfungen durchlaufen, bevor voraussichtlich ein Electron-Start Anfang 2026 erfolgt.
LOXSAT wird den verlustfreien Lagerung von flüssigem Sauerstoff im Orbit testen, um künftige Cryo-Dock-Brennstoffdepots zu informieren, die für den Betrieb im 2030 vorgesehen sind. Die Mission wird vom Programm NASA’s Tipping Point unterstützt; Rocket Lab wird sowohl Raumfahrzeug als auch Startdienste unter Nutzung der Photon-Plattform mit Flugbeteiligung von CAPSTONE (2022) bereitstellen.
Rocket Lab (ناسداك: RKLB) أكملت مركبة Photon الفضائية وتجاوزت مراجعة تكامل الأنظمة (SIR) في سبتمبر لـ Eta Space وت demos تكنولوجيا تزويد الوقود cryogenic لـ NASA LOXSAT. تم الانتهاء من تكامل الحمولة وستدخل المهمة اختباراً بيئياً قبيل إطلاق Electron في أوائل 2026.
LOXSAT سُيختبر تخزين الأكسجين السائل بلا فقدان في المدار لإبلاغ مستودع وقود Cryo-Dock المستقبلي المقرر تشغيله في 2030. المهمة ممولة من برنامج NASA’s Tipping Point; ستوفر Rocket Lab كل من المركبة الفضائية وخدمات الإطلاق باستخدام منصة Photon مع خبرة طيران من CAPSTONE (2022).
Rocket Lab (纳斯达克: RKLB) 完成 Photon 载具并在九月通过了 系统集成评审（SIR），面向 Eta Space 与 NASA 的 LOXSAT 低温加注技术示范。载荷集成已完成，任务将进入环境测试，预计在 2026 年初发射 Electron。
LOXSAT 将在轨道上测试零损耗液氧存储，为未来的 Cryo-Dock 推进物料库提供信息，目标在 2030 部署。该任务由 NASA’s Tipping Point 计划资助；Rocket Lab 将提供航天器和发射服务，使用其 Photon 平台，并具备 CAPSTONE（2022） 的飞行经验。
- Systems Integration Review (SIR) completed in September 2025
- Photon spacecraft build and payload integration completed
- Mission entering environmental testing ahead of early 2026 Electron launch
- LOXSAT sponsored by NASA Tipping Point, supporting Cryo-Dock roadmap to 2030
- Photon platform has prior flight heritage from CAPSTONE (2022)
- None.
Insights
Completion of the Photon spacecraft and SIR clearance advances LOXSAT toward environmental testing and an early
The company cleared its Systems Integration Review in
Key dependencies include successful environmental test results and a timely Electron launch from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand; any delays in testing or launch cadence would push the schedule. The mission is sponsored by NASA’s Tipping Point program and was selected by Eta Space in
Watch the immediate milestones: completion of environmental testing, payload integration outcomes, and the announced early
LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the clearance of their Systems Integration Review (SIR) and completion of their Photon spacecraft for Eta Space and NASA’s LOXSAT mission. LOXSAT is an on-orbit technology demonstration of a cryogenic fluid management system, that will inform the design of Cryo-Dock, a full-scale cryogenic propellant depot in low Earth orbit to be operational in 2030.
The SIR, completed in September, marked a key milestone for the program, allowing the team to proceed with payload integration. Rocket Lab will now move the mission into environmental testing – the next phase before its launch on Electron in early 2026.
Rocket Lab was selected in 2020 by Eta Space to provide both the spacecraft and its Electron launch vehicle for the LOXSAT mission, joining a growing list of spacecraft-plus-launch mission solutions supported by the Company, including the CAPSTONE lunar mission for NASA and the upcoming VICTUS HAZE mission for the U.S. Space Force. Rocket Lab’s end-to-end capabilities simplify mission execution and minimize cost and schedule risks, providing customers with a single, responsive space solutions partner for a wide range of mission objectives.
“We're proud to be both the spacecraft and launch provider for LOXSAT and for the opportunity to show Rocket Lab’s true end-to-end space systems capabilities,” said Brad Clevenger, Vice President of Space Systems. “With LOXSAT, we’re supporting a critical technology demonstration that will enable key steps toward making orbital propellant depots a reality. The ability to refuel in space is fundamental to unlocking reusable and sustainable exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. With the spacecraft build and payload integration complete, our team is focused on environmental testing ahead of its launch on Electron.”
“We are excited to reach this milestone”, said Bill Notardonato, CEO of Eta Space. “We chose Rocket Lab as a launch provider based on their proven Electron rocket and the chance to have a dedicated launch to our exact orbit on our schedule. But their spacecraft experience and payload hosting services have proven to be just as valuable as launch services for our project success.”
Despite being one of the most efficient and energetic propellants for spacecraft, cryogenic propellants can vaporize as temperature rises, causing critical loss on orbit. LOXSAT will test the ability to store liquid oxygen (LOX) in a zero-loss configuration, with the goal of creating a larger scale model in the future that could serve as a commercial cryogenic propellant depot in space. This would enable reuse and refueling of spacecraft on orbit.
The basis of the spacecraft is the Company’s Photon platform, which gained flight heritage in 2022 with NASA’s CAPSTONE mission to the Moon. LOXSAT was designed and built using Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated components and systems, including star trackers, propulsion systems, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures, tanks, separation systems, and more. The spacecraft was produced and will undergo environmental testing at the Company’s Spacecraft Production Complex and headquarters in Long Beach, California, and will ultimately be launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
The LOXSAT mission is sponsored by NASA’s Tipping Point program that aims to advance technologies that could support human space exploration in the future.
Rocket Lab Media Contact
Lindsay McLaurin
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.
About Eta Space
Eta Space is a technology development company founded in 2019 by former NASA personnel. Named after the Greek letter η — symbolizing efficiency — Eta Space develops advanced cryogenic systems for space exploration and the future hydrogen energy economy. From the lunar surface to local airports, Eta Space is Fueling Future Exploration with cutting-edge solutions that push the boundaries of efficiency and innovation. Learn more at etaspace.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 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/c903d28a-6e71-4738-8ff9-81d07f9463d2
FAQ
What did Rocket Lab (RKLB) announce about the LOXSAT mission on October 22, 2025?
When is Rocket Lab's LOXSAT mission with Eta Space and NASA scheduled to launch?
What is the objective of the LOXSAT mission referenced by Rocket Lab (RKLB)?
How does LOXSAT relate to Rocket Lab's Photon platform and prior missions?
Who is sponsoring LOXSAT and what long-term goal does it support?
