Rocket Lab Delivers Mission Success on First Launch of 2026 for New Customer: Open Cosmos
Rhea-AI Summary
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.
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News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, RKLB gained 0.18%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +12.4% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -4.1% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 39 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $91M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $50.42B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
While RKLB was down 1.5% before this news, key Aerospace & Defense peers like TXT (+2.58%), ESLT (+1.88%), and CW (+1.34%) were positive, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | Neutron test incident | Negative | -1.5% | Stage 1 tank rupture during Neutron hydrostatic qualification test. |
| Dec 21 | Launch milestone | Positive | +10.0% | Final 2025 Electron launch, 21 annual launches, 100% mission success. |
| Dec 19 | Major SDA contract | Positive | +17.7% | $816M U.S. Space Development Agency contract for 18 TRKT3 satellites. |
| Dec 18 | STP-S30 launch success | Positive | +11.1% | Successful STP-S30 mission to 550 km LEO, 20th 2025 launch. |
| Dec 16 | Launch reschedule | Positive | +0.1% | STP-S30 launch brought forward several months for U.S. Space Force. |
RKLB has recently shown strong positive reactions to government contracts and successful launch milestones, with even scheduling announcements drawing modest gains.
Over the past weeks, Rocket Lab has combined strong operational execution with major contract wins. On Dec 18, 2025, a successful STP-S30 launch marked the 20th Electron mission of 2025 and produced a +11.05% move. A few days later, an $816M U.S. Space Force contract and 2025’s final iQPS launch drove gains of +17.69% and +9.97%. In contrast, the Jan 21, 2026 Neutron tank rupture update saw a -1.5% reaction. Today’s successful first 2026 launch continues the operational momentum following a record 21 launches with 100% mission success in 2025.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Rocket Lab’s continued operational cadence, marking its 80th Electron launch and first mission of 2026, deploying two satellites to a 1,050 km orbit for new customer Open Cosmos. The deal underscores Electron’s role in telecom constellations following a 2025 marked by 21 launches and major government contracts. At the same time, investors may track Neutron development updates, ongoing insider selling trends, and the pace of follow-on missions to gauge how execution translates into longer-term fundamentals.
Key Terms
low Earth orbit technical
ka-band spectrum technical
telecom constellation technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
MAHIA, New Zealand, Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, successfully completed its 1st launch of 2026 and its 80th Electron launch overall.
The mission ‘The Cosmos Will See You Now’ lifted off today from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 11:52 pm NZDT (10:52 UTC). The mission successfully deployed two satellites into a 1,050 km circular Earth orbit for Open Cosmos, a first-time dedicated launch customer. This higher-altitude deployment showcased Electron’s wide payload trajectory range, maintaining its reputation as a versatile and dependable small spacecraft launch vehicle that meets diverse mission requirements.
Open Cosmos, a pan-European space technology company, offers complete end-to-end satellite services, encompassing everything from design and manufacturing to in-orbit operations and solutions. Just one week after securing high-priority Ka-band spectrum, it has launched the first satellites in its new proprietary low Earth orbit (LEO) telecom constellation. This new constellation compliments the already in orbit satellites that deliver high-resolution imagery and global monitoring capabilities, supporting a wide range of applications and providing valuable metadata for diverse uses. As Open Cosmos continues to increase satellite production each year to meet growing global demand, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle is well-equipped to support its needs.
Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: "What a great way to start off the year, by welcoming a new customer and launching a mission tailored just for them. Today’s launch is a great showcase of the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: accurate constellation deployment, streamlined access to space, and the reliability of consistently delivering mission success for our customers.”
The upcoming year for Rocket Lab includes a busy manifest of Electron launches for new and repeat customers across its launch sites in Virginia and New Zealand, with Rocket Lab’s next Electron launch scheduled to take place shortly from Launch Complex 1. Details on upcoming missions will be shared at www.rocketlabcorp.com
Launch images: F80 | The Cosmos Will See You Now | Flickr
Launch webcast: Rocket Lab - 'The Cosmos Will See You Now' Launch - YouTube
Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, a family of flight proven spacecraft, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 200+ satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s family of spacecraft have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit 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, 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 https://investors.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.
FAQ
What did Rocket Lab (RKLB) announce about its Jan. 22, 2026 launch?
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What orbit did Rocket Lab place Open Cosmos satellites into on Jan. 22, 2026?
How does the Jan. 22 launch affect Rocket Lab's launch cadence for 2026 (RKLB)?
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