Rocket Lab Executes Successful Launch of STP-S30 Mission for the Department of War
Rhea-AI Summary
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.
Positive
- Launch accelerated by 5 months
- Deployed 4 DiskSat to 550 km LEO
- 20th launch of 2025 and 78th mission overall
- Completed 4 launches from LC-2 in 3 months
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
RKLB fell 2.76% while key peers were mixed: ESLT -1.02%, CW -1.92%, BWXT -2.93%, WWD -2.12%, and TXT +1.22%, pointing to a largely stock-specific move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13 | JAXA launch success | Positive | -9.9% | First dedicated JAXA mission completed, extending 2025 launch record. |
| Dec 09 | KAIST launch scheduling | Positive | +3.6% | Brought forward KAIST mission, showcasing schedule agility and responsiveness. |
| Dec 09 | CSA R&D funding | Positive | +3.6% | Awarded Canadian Space Agency funding for medium-class reaction wheel. |
| Dec 08 | Neutron fairing qualified | Positive | +5.1% | Hungry Hippo fairing qualified, advancing path to first Neutron launch. |
| Nov 24 | JAXA mission scheduled | Positive | +0.3% | Set window for first dedicated JAXA launch, reinforcing growing cadence. |
Operational and contract wins have generally led to positive price reactions, though the recent JAXA mission saw a sharp negative divergence despite positive content.
Over the past month, RKLB reported multiple operational milestones, including JAXA’s first dedicated mission, an expedited KAIST launch, Neutron’s Hungry Hippo fairing qualification, and scheduling of JAXA’s RAISE-4 launch. These updates highlighted increasing launch cadence and technology progress. Today’s STP-S30 success for the Department of War continues this theme of frequent, defense- and agency-backed missions, reinforcing a trajectory of growing institutional demand and expanding capabilities across Q4 2025.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights another successful defense mission, delivering four DiskSat spacecraft to a 550km low Earth orbit and marking Electron’s 20th launch of 2025 and 78th overall. It reinforces Rocket Lab’s cadence with four national security launches in three months. Context from Q3 2025 shows revenue of $155.1M and a backlog of $1.096B. Investors may watch future mission awards, Neutron’s progress, and follow-on government work as key indicators.
Key Terms
low Earth orbit technical
cubesat technical
launch vehicle technical
at-the-market equity offerings financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) – completing the launch five months ahead of schedule and playing a critical role in advancing technologies that ensure U.S. superiority in space.
The launch, named ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’, lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia on December 18 at 12:03 a.m. (05:03 UTC) to deploy four DiskSat spacecraft to a 550km low Earth orbit for Department of War’s (DoW) Space Test Program (STP). Managed by SSC’s System Delta 89 (SYD 89) Capability Development Branch led by Lt Col Cesar Rodriguez, developed by The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), and funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems program, based at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DiskSat is a proposed alternative to CubeSat satellites to improve the build, integration, and cost of future small satellite missions and unlock new possibilities across commercial, government, and defense applications.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ is the latest showcase of Rocket Lab’s flexibility and agile launch capabilities. Working alongside the USSF’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), Rocket Lab executed the mission five months ahead of schedule. RSLP awarded STP-S30 to Rocket Lab in April 2024 using the Orbital Services Program (OSP-4) contract.
Rocket Lab has delivered an affordable, responsive, and reliable launch solution to the USSF and its civil and industry partners that remains unmatched across dedicated commercial small launch. ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ completes a run of four launches in the past three months from Rocket Lab’s LC-2 launch in Virginia, each serving national security and defense technology advancement objectives for the DoW.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Rocket Lab’s speed, streamlined operations, and reliability were on full display with this flawless Electron launch for STP-S30, and we’re proud to be strengthening the nation’s space capabilities. We’re meeting the space access demands of the U.S. Space Force with our consistent execution, and this launch is another proud moment in Rocket Lab’s long history of successful missions for defense, national security, and commercial space users.”
Lt. Col. Brian Shimek, Director, Department of War Space Test Program, says: "We are immensely proud of this collaboration with Rocket Lab, the Capability Development Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), The Aerospace Corporation, and the Rocket Systems Launch Program. Their exceptional teamwork and dedication have made this achievement possible. Proving these advanced technologies in the space environment is a critical step towards their integration into future operational Space Force systems, ensuring our nation maintains its edge in space. Accelerating this launch by five months underscores our commitment to rapidly delivering innovative capabilities to the Space Force. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the entire STP-S30 team."
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ was also Electron’s 20th launch of the year and 78th mission overall, further extending Rocket Lab’s new annual launch record. Details for Rocket Lab’s next Electron launch of 2025 will be announced in the coming days.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch images: F78 | Don't Be Such A Square
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch webcast: Rocket Lab - 'Don't Be Such A Square' Launch
Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
About Rocket Lab
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, 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) launch on December 18, 2025?
How far ahead of schedule was the RKLB STP-S30 launch?
Which contract covered RKLB’s STP-S30 mission and when was it awarded?
How many DiskSat spacecraft did RKLB deploy and to what orbit?
What operational milestones did the December 18, 2025 Electron flight reach for Rocket Lab?
How does the STP-S30 launch affect Rocket Lab’s national security role?
