News: Rocket Lab USA
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News / Rocket Lab USA
- Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing satellite on 99th mission to date (video) Space.com · 2 Nov 2026 Rocket Lab launched its 99th mission to date today (Nov. 2), sending a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite toward orbit.
- Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut to No Earlier Than 2027 NASASpaceflight · 16 Oct 2026 Rocket Lab has delayed its Neutron launch vehicle once again after carbon fibre manufacturing problems…
- Suspected Second-generation Planet Solves NASA Hubble Cold Case NASA · 5 Oct 2026 New analysis of archival Hubble data points to the possibility of “dead” white dwarf stars hosting second-generation planetary systems.
- Rocket Lab is seeing red about NASA's decision on a Mars spacecraft Ars Technica · 14 Sep 2026 "NASA’s award decision appears to be inconsistent with the eligibility criteria."
- Rocket Lab’s Hungry Hippo completes testing NASASpaceflight · 2 Sep 2026 With Rocket Lab targeting to launch its Neutron vehicle by the end of this year,…
- Aerospace demonstrates DiskSats in low-Earth orbit SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2026 SALT LAKE CITY – The Aerospace Corp. is continuing to demonstrate the viability of pancake-shaped DiskSats in the wake of their December launch on a Rocket Lab Electron. “It’s the […]
- Rocket Lab launches 9th satellite for iQPS SpaceNews · 20 Aug 2026 Rocket Lab launched another satellite for Japanese radar-imaging company iQPS on Aug. 20.
- Rocket Lab to test Space Force data network connection in orbit in 2027 SpaceNews · 18 Aug 2026 The company will use a Photon spacecraft to test interoperability with the Space Data Network's core infrastructure built by SpaceX
- Rocket Lab advances via series of announcements NASASpaceflight · 15 Aug 2026 Rocket Lab has formally established a new subsidiary in Germany and introduced a containerized mobile…
- Rocket Report: Rocket Lab shows off its flexibility; Blue Origin's two-pad plan Ars Technica · 14 Aug 2026 "We’ve never seen launch capacity so constrained."
- Space Force awards five companies $60 million for multi-vendor satellite network tests SpaceNews · 13 Aug 2026 Amazon Leo, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab and York Space will prototype and test connections to the SpaceX-built data network backbone
- Rocket Lab Establishes German Subsidiary European Spaceflight · 12 Aug 2026 Rocket Lab has established a new subsidiary in Germany to enable it to offer scaled domestic production of satellites and launch services on both its Electron and Neutron rockets. The company formally announced Rocket La...
- First Neutron launch may slip to 2027 SpaceNews · 11 Aug 2026 Rocket Lab warned that the chances of launching its Neutron rocket for the first time before the end of the year are “narrowing” despite progress on the vehicle’s development.
- Window for 2026 launch debut of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket ‘is narrowing’ as development continues Spaceflight Now · 10 Aug 2026 The announcement came in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of a quarterly investor earnings call on Aug. 10.
- Rocket Lab builds deployable infrastructure for Electron launches SpaceNews · 10 Aug 2026 Named ‘GHOST’ the containerized infrastructure is designed to support orbital and suborbital launches
- Kepler books Neutron for 2028 optical relay launch SpaceNews · 10 Aug 2026 Kepler Communications plans to deploy next-generation optical relay satellites on Rocket Lab’s upcoming Neutron rocket in one of several launches the Canadian operator has slated for 2028.
- Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS satellite SpaceNews · 6 Aug 2026 Rocket Lab launched a Japanese radar-imaging satellite Aug. 6, more than a month after the previous launch attempt was aborted.
- Rocket Lab, STR win Space Force contracts for airborne-target tracking technologies SpaceNews · 4 Aug 2026 The companies, along with a third unidentified vendor, won $615 million in contracts for the AMTI satellite program
- Rocket Lab wins another launch contract from Japan’s iQPS SpaceNews · 30 Jul 2026 Rocket Lab has won another contract from Japanese radar imaging company iQPS for multiple launches of its Electron rocket.
- Rocket Lab to open Alaska launch site under $266 million Space Force deal SpaceNews · 27 Jul 2026 New Kodiak facility will support up to 18 suborbital missions for military testing
- Making Progress: Relativity’s Terran R, Rocket Lab’s Neutron, and PLD Space’s Miura 5 NASASpaceflight · 20 Jul 2026 While the focus of late has been on Starship’s test program, three companies developing new…
- NASA’s Webb Discovers Hidden Planet in Famous Star System NASA · 15 Jul 2026 Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a giant planet outside our solar system, called an exoplanet, hiding within one of the most intensely studied planetary systems in our Milky Way galaxy....
- Rocket Lab sees Electron gains, Neutron delays in first half of 2026 NASASpaceflight · 8 Jul 2026 Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket has had a record stretch through the first half of 2026,…
- Iridium folds Aireon aviation safety service into Rocket Lab-bound business SpaceNews · 6 Jul 2026 Iridium Communications has completed its takeover of Aireon, bringing the aircraft-tracking venture fully in-house ahead of the satellite operator’s planned $8 billion sale to Rocket Lab.
- In a bold move, Rocket Lab acquires Iridium Communications Ars Technica · 29 Jun 2026 "We believe this will be one of the most transformative deals in the space industry."
- Beck: Iridium acquisition the “logical next step” for Rocket Lab SpaceNews · 29 Jun 2026 Rocket Lab’s chief executive says the company’s acquisition of Iridium was the “logical next step” in his ambitions to tap into the lucrative space services market.
- Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium SpaceNews · 29 Jun 2026 Rocket Lab is acquiring satellite telecommunications company Iridium for $8 billion as part of its effort to become an end-to-end space company.
- Rocket Lab launches 10th Synspective satellite SpaceNews · 26 Jun 2026 Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on June 26, a flight delayed by a responsive space mission.
- Rocket Report: China may soon attempt booster landing; Rocket Lab does rapid response Ars Technica · 26 Jun 2026 Is SpaceX planning to end its Transporter program?
- Rocket Lab wins NASA award for three Electron launches SpaceNews · 25 Jun 2026 NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch a pair of science missions on three Electron rockets in 2027.
- NASA Selects Rocket Lab to Launch Sun, Earth Science Missions NASA · 25 Jun 2026 NASA has selected Rocket Lab to provide the launch service for both the agency’s PolSIR (Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer) and Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) missions. The two selection...
- Rocket Lab launches satellite for U.S. Space Force Victus Haze responsive space exercise SpaceNews · 22 Jun 2026 The mission pairs Rocket Lab spacecraft with a True Anomaly vehicle in orbit to demonstrate rapid threat characterization and rendezvous operations
- K2 Space, Rocket Lab win key supplier roles in Space Force satcom program SpaceNews · 11 Jun 2026 K2 Space and Rocket Lab will supply spacecraft buses to SES and Viasat for the military's next-generation protected satcom program
- Launch Preview: Chinese, Rocket Lab, and Starlink flights scheduled NASASpaceflight · 8 Jun 2026 The upcoming week features flights from China, California, Virginia, and Florida. Three Starlink launches, two…
- Rocket Lab launches ninth Synspective satellite SpaceNews · 22 May 2026 Rocket Lab launched another radar imaging satellite for Synspective as the company plans to sell up to $3 billion in stock to fund future initiatives.
- Rocket Lab wins first GEO satellite production contract from U.S. Space Force SpaceNews · 22 May 2026 The $90 million contract is to build build and operate two satellites carrying optical payloads
- Rocket Lab signs new launch contracts and acquires robotics company during Q1 2026 NASASpaceflight · 15 May 2026 Rocket Lab opened 2026 by breaking every record it set in 2025. The company signed…
- Rocket Report: Flying past peak Falcon 9; Rocket Lab revenue soars Ars Technica · 8 May 2026 "The deciding factor was what we felt like was the team’s impact to humanity."
- Rocket Lab announces five-launch Neutron deal as it continues aiming for late 2026 debut Spaceflight Now · 7 May 2026 The company pivoted to a Neutron rocket launch debut no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2026 following a first stage tank test failure earlier this year. The first flight of Neutron won’t be reusable, but aims to reco...
- Rocket Lab wins contract for three more iQPS launches SpaceNews · 12 Apr 2026 Rocket Lab has won a contract from Japanese radar satellite company iQPS for three additional Electron launches.