Rocket Lab Secures Latest Multi-Launch Contract with BlackSky for 4x Dedicated Electron Missions
Rhea-AI Summary
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) signed a multi-launch contract with BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY) for four dedicated Electron missions, bringing BlackSky's total Electron launches with Rocket Lab to 17 since 2019 and making Rocket Lab the company's most prolific global launch provider.
Each mission will integrate Rocket Lab’s Advanced Lightband separation systems and follows a record year of 21 launches in 2025, supporting BlackSky’s Gen-3 Earth observation constellation and rapid commissioning timelines.
Positive
- Four dedicated Electron launches secured for BlackSky
- 17 total Electron launches for BlackSky since 2019, most for any provider
- Advanced Lightband separation systems to be integrated on each mission
- Momentum from 21 launches in 2025 supports continued demand
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
RKLB showed a modest move while momentum peers were mixed: AVAV was down and WWD was up. Broader Aerospace & Defense peers like ESLT, CW, TXT, and WWD showed varied single-stock moves, supporting this as company-specific contract news.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 | Hypersonic test mission | Positive | +2.2% | New HASTE hypersonic test mission for Defense Innovation Unit and Hypersonix. |
| Jan 29 | Launch success | Positive | -6.5% | Successful 81st Electron launch deploying KAIST NEONSAT-1A to low Earth orbit. |
| Jan 26 | Earnings date set | Neutral | +8.1% | Announcement of date for Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results and call. |
| Jan 26 | Neutron development | Positive | +8.1% | Arrival of “Hungry Hippo” Neutron fairing at Virginia ahead of first flight. |
| Jan 22 | New customer launch | Positive | +0.2% | First 2026 launch for new customer Open Cosmos with two satellites deployed. |
Operational and launch-related updates have generally seen positive or mixed reactions, with one notable selloff on otherwise positive launch news.
Over recent months, Rocket Lab has reported multiple operational milestones, including hypersonic testing for the Defense Innovation Unit and several successful Electron missions for customers like KAIST and Open Cosmos. These updates produced mixed price reactions, from a +8.1% move on Neutron fairing progress to a -6.55% drop after a successful Korean imaging launch. Today’s multi-launch BlackSky contract extends the theme of expanding commercial and defense-related launch activity following a record 2025.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights a new multi-launch contract adding 4 dedicated Electron missions for BlackSky, bringing their total to 17 since 2019 and referencing a record 21 launches in 2025. It reinforces Rocket Lab’s role as a key provider for Earth observation constellations and showcases vertical integration via Advanced Lightband separation systems. Investors may watch how this expanding backlog complements Neutron development updates and upcoming financial results disclosures.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has signed another multi-launch deal with real-time space-based intelligence company BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) – further expanding Rocket Lab’s service as the primary launch provider deploying BlackSky’s advanced, AI-enabled Gen-3 Earth observation constellation.
The multi-launch deal secures four new dedicated Electron launches, bringing the total number of Electron launches for BlackSky since 2019 to 17, and making Rocket Lab the single most prolific launch provider to BlackSky globally. Rocket Lab’s Advanced Lightband separation systems will be integrated into each mission, ensuring the safe on-orbit separation of their spacecraft from the rocket, and demonstrating vertically integrated synergy across Rocket Lab’s launch and space systems businesses.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Long-term partnerships like these are built on reliability and execution, and with Electron’s stellar record and our team’s sought-after launch service, we’re proud to keep delivering streamlined access to space for BlackSky with these newly signed missions and upcoming launches already on contract.”
BlackSky CEO, Brian O’Toole, says: “Rocket Lab’s agile pre-launch integration support and precise orbital insertions have aided BlackSky's ability to deliver value with each launch. With BlackSky’s rapid commissioning process customers no longer have to wait the months typically associated with traditional commissioning timelines to access capacity from newly launched on-orbit assets. This new contract with Rocket Lab will help increase Gen-3 on orbit capacity as we continue to provide our customers dependable, flexible access to timely space-based intelligence at disruptive speed, economics and clarity.”
High demand from commercial, civil, and defense customers for dedicated Electron launch services continues in 2026 off the back of a record year of 21 launches in 2025.
Rocket Lab Images and Videos: www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlab/
Rocket Lab Media contact
Murielle Baker
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 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 announce on February 26, 2026 about BlackSky (BKSY)?
How will Rocket Lab support BlackSky's Gen-3 constellation under the RKLB contract?
Does the February 26, 2026 deal change Rocket Lab's relationship with BlackSky (BKSY)?
Will the Rocket Lab and BlackSky launches accelerate BlackSky's operational capacity?
How does Rocket Lab's recent launch cadence relate to the BlackSky contract (RKLB)?
