News: Rocket Lab USA
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News / Rocket Lab USA
- Rocket Lab to launch NASA smallsat using SBIR award SpaceNews · 11 Oct 2021 Rocket Lab will launch a NASA technology demonstration satellite under an unconventional arrangement as the agency works on a more standardized approach for launching smallsats.
- Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, ULA win Space Force contracts for rocket technology projects SpaceNews · 25 Sep 2021 Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance were selected to participate in Space Force development projects to advance rocket engine testing and launch vehicle upper stages.
- Rocket Lab to launch Astroscale inspection satellite SpaceNews · 23 Sep 2021 Rocket Lab will launch an Astroscale mission to rendezvous with a spent rocket stage in low Earth orbit, a prelude to eventually deorbiting the stage.
- Pandemic delaying Rocket Lab launches SpaceNews · 9 Sep 2021 Rocket Lab says lockdowns in New Zealand caused by the latest surge of the coronavirus pandemic will postpone launches to at least October and cut its projected revenues for the year.
- Rocket Lab wins multi-launch deal for IoT constellation SpaceNews · 8 Sep 2021 Rocket Lab will deploy an entire constellation of internet-of-things satellites for a French startup under a multi-launch deal announced Sept. 8.
- Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component production SpaceNews · 2 Sep 2021 Rocket Lab announced Sept. 1 that it is expanding production of satellite components to meet demand from companies developing satellite constellations.
- Small launch vehicles grow up SpaceNews · 30 Aug 2021 Why Relativity Space and Rocket Lab are both developing larger rockets that could vie with Falcon 9 and Vulcan Centaur for some classes of payloads.
- Rocket Lab closes lower in first day on Nasdaq SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 Shares in small launch vehicle and spacecraft developer Rocket Lab dropped in their first day of trading Aug. 25, but the company’s chief executive says it remains focused on its long-term plans enabled by going public.
- Shareholders approve Rocket Lab SPAC deal SpaceNews · 20 Aug 2021 Shareholders of a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) voted Aug. 20 to merge with Rocket Lab, giving the small launch vehicle and spacecraft developer an infusion of cash.
- Rocket Lab to launch Finnish cubesat SpaceNews · 17 Aug 2021 A Finnish cubesat designed to test satellite deorbiting technologies will launch on a Rocket Lab Electron after delays with its original launch on a Momentus tug.
- Launch of lunar CubeSat moved from Virginia to New Zealand Spaceflight Now · 16 Aug 2021 The launch of a miniature trailblazer probe for NASA’s planned Gateway lunar space station has been moved from Rocket Lab’s new launch pad in Virginia to the company’s spaceport in New Zealand, officials recently announc...
- Rocket Lab announces three back-to-back launches for BlackSky Spaceflight Now · 15 Aug 2021 Rocket Lab is gearing up for three back-to-back missions beginning later this month from its New Zealand launch base, each carrying two commercial BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites.
- Rocket Lab wins order for three Photon missions from space manufacturing startup SpaceNews · 12 Aug 2021 Rocket Lab will build and launch three of its Photon spacecraft to serve as platforms for a startup with space manufacturing aspirations.
- Unseenlabs lines up Vega flight for fourth maritime surveillance satellite SpaceNews · 10 Aug 2021 French startup Unseenlabs is set to fly its next maritime surveillance nanosatellite on an Arianespace Vega rocket in mid-August, instead of launching with Rocket Lab as it did for the first three BRO spacecraft the vent...
- Rocket Lab to launch three sets of BlackSky satellites SpaceNews · 10 Aug 2021 Rocket Lab will conduct three launches of satellites for Earth observation company BlackSky in about one month, the fastest launch cadence the company had demonstrated to date.
- NASA, Rocket Lab move first Artemis Moon launch – CAPSTONE – to New Zealand NASASpaceflight · 7 Aug 2021 New Zealand is now set to host the first launch of the Artemis Program, as Rocket Lab is now planning to launch the CAPSTONE mission from their operational launch pad at Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula. This is t...
- Rocket Lab shifts CAPSTONE launch to New Zealand SpaceNews · 6 Aug 2021 A NASA smallsat mission to test the orbit that will be used by the lunar Gateway will launch from New Zealand and not Virginia as originally planned.
- Rocket Report: Ariane V returns after long layoff, Rocket Lab’s tough culture Ars Technica · 30 Jul 2021 "Pete told us that key contributors would be driving Ferraris to work in a year."
- Rocket Lab returns to service with “flawless” launch for U.S. military Spaceflight Now · 29 Jul 2021 Resuming launches after a mission failure two months ago, Rocket Lab successfully placed a small U.S. military research and development satellite into orbit Thursday following a fiery liftoff from New Zealand on a flight...
- Rocket Lab returns Electron to flight with Space Force launch SpaceNews · 29 Jul 2021 Rocket Lab returned its Electron rocket to flight July 29 with the successful launch of an experimental satellite for the U.S. Space Force.
- Rocket Lab returns Electron to flight with dedicated US Space Force mission NASASpaceflight · 28 Jul 2021 Rocket Lab conducted the 21st flight of its Electron small satellite launch vehicle, a return to flight mission following a failure over two months ago. The launch carried a satellite for the United States Space Force on...
- Rocket Lab not yet close to profitability, proxy statement reveals Ars Technica · 28 Jul 2021 "We expect to continue to incur net losses for the next several years."
- Rocket Lab set to resume launches Thursday after failure in May Spaceflight Now · 28 Jul 2021 Rocket Lab is set to launch a small U.S. military technology demonstration satellite from New Zealand Thursday on the company’s first mission since a second stage failure doomed a commercial mission in May.
- Rocket Lab identifies cause of Electron failure SpaceNews · 19 Jul 2021 Rocket Lab said July 19 that it has identified the cause of an Electron launch failure more than two months ago and that the vehicle is ready to return to flight.
- Mars smallsat mission gets second chance with Rocket Lab SpaceNews · 20 Jun 2021 A NASA-funded smallsat mission to Mars that lost its ride last year may get new life through a partnership with Rocket Lab.
- Rocket Lab continues to study “complex” Electron failure SpaceNews · 2 Jun 2021 Rocket Lab said June 2 that it is continuing to study the “complex failure” on its most recent Electron launch, even after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume launches.
- Rocket Lab says engine issue caused Electron failure SpaceNews · 18 May 2021 Rocket Lab said an Electron rocket failed to reach orbit May 15 when the vehicle’s computer system detected a problem with the second stage engine and shut it down.
- Rocket Lab reviewing data after its second Electron failure in a year Ars Technica · 17 May 2021 "We deeply regret the loss of BlackSky's payload."
- Two BlackSky satellites lost on Rocket Lab launch failure Spaceflight Now · 15 May 2021 A Rocket Lab Electron launcher malfunctioned about two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff from New Zealand Saturday, destroying two BlackSky optical Earth-imaging satellites in the launch company’s second failed flight in...
- Electron launch fails SpaceNews · 15 May 2021 A Rocket Lab Electron rocket failed to reach orbit May 15 when its second stage engine shut down seconds after ignition, the second launch failure in less than a year for the company.
- Rocket Lab suffers failure on Electron’s 20th mission NASASpaceflight · 15 May 2021 Rocket Lab conducted its twentieth launch of an Electron rocket, named “Running Out of Toes,” carrying two Earth-observation satellites for BlackSky’s global monitoring constellation. The mission also included an attempt...
- Rocket Lab to make second booster recovery attempt SpaceNews · 14 May 2021 The next launch of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will be the second mission where the company attempts to recover the vehicle’s first stage as part of its efforts to reuse the booster.
- Rocket Lab ready for second booster recovery attempt Spaceflight Now · 14 May 2021 The scheduled launch Saturday of two commercial BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites from New Zealand will double as an opportunity for Rocket Lab to test an enhanced heat shield on its Electron booster, an upgrade that sho...
- BlackSky strikes deal with Rocket Lab to launch eight more satellites in 2021 SpaceNews · 25 Mar 2021 BlackSky announced March 25 it signed an agreement with Rocket Lab to launch eight satellites before the end of 2021.
- Testbed for NASA moon mission rides to orbit with six other satellites Spaceflight Now · 23 Mar 2021 Rocket Lab launched seven satellites Monday from New Zealand on a rideshare mission serving the U.S. and Australian militaries and space services startups. A spacecraft developed in-house by Rocket Lab was also aboard to...
- Rocket Lab launches Photon pathfinder on They Go Up So Fast NASASpaceflight · 22 Mar 2021 The 19th flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, named They Go Up So Fast, lifted off on Monday, March 22 at 22:30 UTC. On board the mission were six customer satellites and an internal Photon pathfinder satellite named...
- Rocket Lab launches smallsat rideshare mission SpaceNews · 22 Mar 2021 Rocket Lab launched six smallsats for a variety of commercial and government customers March 22 on a mission also intended to demonstrate the performance of its own smallsat bus.
- Rocket Lab will directly challenge SpaceX with its proposed Neutron launcher Ars Technica · 10 Mar 2021 "We're in this for the long haul."
- Rocket Lab reveals reusable, medium-lift Neutron rocket NASASpaceflight · 7 Mar 2021 To date, Rocket Lab has successfully introduced the first dedicated small satellite launch vehicle, Electron, which CEO Peter Beck said would never be reusable. Then, the company successfully recovered a first stage. Now...
- Rocket Lab says SPAC deal will accelerate development of Neutron rocket SpaceNews · 2 Mar 2021 A growing realization of the need for a medium-class launch vehicle led Rocket Lab to speed up its plans to go public by merging with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC).