Rocket Lab Schedules Launch for U.S. Space Force’s STP-S30 Mission, Brings Launch Forward By Several Months
Rhea-AI Summary
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) accelerated its Electron launch for the U.S. Space Force STP-S30 mission, moving liftoff to Dec 18, 2025 from an initial target of April 2026.
The mission, called “Don’t Be Such A Square,” will lift from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, deploy the first four DiskSats to a 550 km low Earth orbit, and test maneuverability, dispenser mechanics, and orbit changes using electric propulsion.
Rocket Lab said this will be Electron’s 20th launch of the year and 78th mission overall, and follows another recent LC-2 launch less than a month earlier.
Positive
- Launch accelerated from April 2026 to Dec 18, 2025
- Will deploy the first four DiskSats to space for Aerospace/SSC testing
- Delivery to 550 km LEO to test electric-propulsion orbit changes
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, RKLB gained 0.14%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers show mixed moves: ESLT up 1.61% while CW, TXT, and WWD are modestly negative or flat, suggesting today’s RKLB setup is more company-specific than a broad Aerospace & Defense move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13 | JAXA mission success | Positive | -9.9% | First dedicated JAXA launch successfully deployed RAISE-4 technology demonstration satellite. |
| Dec 09 | Launch reschedule | Positive | +3.6% | Accelerated KAIST Earth observation mission, highlighting Electron responsiveness and cadence. |
| Dec 09 | R&D funding award | Positive | +3.6% | Canadian Space Agency funding to develop new reaction wheel for 500–1,000 kg satellites. |
| Dec 08 | Neutron milestone | Positive | +5.1% | Hungry Hippo fairing qualified, clearing key step toward first Neutron launch in 2026. |
| Nov 24 | JAXA launch scheduled | Positive | +0.3% | Announced window for first dedicated JAXA mission, reinforcing rising Electron cadence. |
Operational and contract wins have generally seen positive price alignment, with one notable selloff after a successful JAXA launch.
Over the last month, Rocket Lab reported multiple mission wins and technology milestones. It scheduled and then successfully executed dedicated Electron launches for JAXA, and accelerated a KAIST mission, underscoring responsiveness and a growing manifest. The company also advanced its Neutron program with the Hungry Hippo fairing qualification, targeting a first launch in 2026. Funding from the Canadian Space Agency supported new reaction-wheel development. Most of these news items saw positive price reactions, though the Dec 13, 2025 JAXA mission success coincided with a -9.89% move, showing occasional divergence.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement detailed an accelerated STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force, with Electron set to deploy four DiskSats to a 550 km low Earth orbit and mark its 20th launch of the year and 78th overall. In recent months, Rocket Lab has expanded launch cadence, secured international missions, and advanced Neutron development. Investors may track execution on this responsive-launch capability, backlog conversion from the latest 10-Q, and any further insider activity or capital-raising initiatives disclosed in SEC filings.
Key Terms
low Earth orbit technical
electric propulsion technical
launch window technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced its next Electron launch will deploy the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) after accelerating the launch of the mission by several months, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s agility in meeting the Department of War’s (DoW) space access demands.
The launch, named ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’, is scheduled to liftoff from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia during a launch window that opens on December 18 at 05:00 UTC/12:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 p.m. Pacific on December 17).
Led by the DoW’s Space Test Program (STP) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), the STP-S30 mission will deploy the first four DiskSats to space: disk-shaped spacecraft platforms developed by The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), managed by the SSC’s System Delta 89 (SYD 89) Capability Development Branch 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, that offer an alternative approach to small satellites. Electron will deliver these DiskSats to a 550km low Earth orbit where Aerospace will test their maneuverability, launch dispenser mechanism, and orbit-changing capabilities using electric propulsion - key features for flexible, responsive space operations.
Working with RSLP, Rocket Lab was able to accelerate the ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch to tomorrow from its initial target of April 2026, in what will be a demonstration of Rocket Lab’s industry-leading responsive launch service. The launch is also scheduled to take place less than a month after Rocket Lab’s most recent LC-2 launch, which was the first of two missions Rocket Lab recently deployed within 48 hours from two different hemispheres.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ will be Electron’s 20th launch of the year and 78th mission overall.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch information: https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/next-mission
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch window opens:
- 12:00 a.m. EST, December 18
- 05:00 UTC, December 18
- 9:00 pm PST, December 17
- 6:00 pm NZDT, December 18
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
When will Rocket Lab (RKLB) launch the STP-S30 mission?
What will Rocket Lab (RKLB) deploy on the STP-S30 mission?
From which pad will RKLB launch the STP-S30 mission?
What orbit will RKLB deliver the STP-S30 payloads to?
How does the STP-S30 schedule change reflect on Rocket Lab’s operations?
How many Electron launches will Rocket Lab (RKLB) have completed this year after STP-S30?
