Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company spanning launch, hypersonic test launch, spacecraft, payloads, satellite components, and now laser optical communications and space robotics. Electron remains the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket — Rocket Lab reached 92 missions with the July 1, 2026 'Grain Goddess' launch of iQPS' QPS-SAR-13 radar satellite, putting it on track for a record year and its 100th launch — and Rocket Lab is developing the medium-lift Neutron rocket for constellation, national-security, and exploration missions, with first launch still targeted for Q4 2026. The company posted record Q1 2026 revenue of $200.3M and backlog above $2.2B, completed the $155.3M Mynaric acquisition in April 2026 to add laser comms and a European footprint, and closed the Motiv Space Systems robotics acquisition in May 2026 to bring Mars-proven robotics in-house. On May 27, 2026 Rocket Lab cleared the System Requirements Review for the Space Development Agency's $816M Tracking Layer Tranche 3 missile-defense constellation, taking total SDA awards above $1.3B, and on June 22, 2026 the company joined the Nasdaq-100 Index. On June 29, 2026 Rocket Lab announced its largest-ever deal — an agreement to acquire satellite-communications operator Iridium Communications for about $8B in cash and stock ($54.00/share, roughly half cash and half Rocket Lab stock), adding an operational 66-satellite L-band constellation, ~2.55M subscribers, $871M of 2025 revenue, and globally harmonized spectrum, with the transaction expected to close in mid-2027.
Small-lift, two-stage orbital launch vehicle for dedicated and rideshare small-satellite missions.
Operational from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and Launch Complex 2 in Virginia. The most recent dedicated Electron orbital flight was the July 1, 2026 'The Grain Goddess Provides' mission (iQPS' QPS-SAR-13/MIKURA-I to a 575 km LEO) — Rocket Lab's 92nd mission and 13th Electron flight of 2026 — which followed the June 26 'Ten Owl of Ten' Synspective launch.
Payload to LEO300 kg (660 lb)
Height18 m (59 ft)
Total Missions92 (through the July 1, 2026 'Grain Goddess' iQPS launch)
Medium-lift reusable rocket under development for mega-constellation deployment, national-security, and human spaceflight.
First launch is still targeted for Q4 2026 from Launch Complex 3 at Wallops, with the first flight vehicle being integrated on site, FAA launch permits filed (window July 1–Dec 31, 2026), Stage 1 tank redesign improving strength and manufacturability, and Stage 2 qualification complete and ready for hot fire. Eight Neutron launches were on backlog as of Q1 2026.
Versatile satellite bus and spacecraft platform for missions to the Moon and beyond.
Active as Rocket Lab's integrated launch-plus-spacecraft solution for civil, defense, and commercial missions, including NASA's CAPSTONE lunar pathfinder mission.
Suborbital launch vehicle derived from Electron, designed for hypersonic testing and defense applications.
Operational hypersonic test platform from Wallops Island, Virginia. In March 2026 Rocket Lab signed a $190M, 20-flight MACH-TB 2.0 HASTE block-buy, and in mid-June 2026 it flew its 9th HASTE mission, 'Curveball,' for a government customer — Rocket Lab's 89th mission overall.
Payload Mass~700 kg / 1,540 lb
Payload Separation Velocity3 km/sec to 7.5+ km/sec
Launch SiteLaunch Complex 2, Wallops Island
Top SpeedMach 5+
Contracted Flights20 under MACH-TB 2.0
What's Next
Neutron first launch
Fly Neutron's maiden mission from Wallops; first launch is still targeted for Q4 2026. As of a July 2026 progress review, the first-stage structure is in qualification at Rocket Lab's Middle River, Maryland facility — bearing launch, reentry, and landing loads — the fairing system is being prepared for integrated assembly at Wallops, two Archimedes engine test stands at NASA Stennis are running roughly 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and FAA launch permits are filed (window July 1–Dec 31, 2026). In mid-July 2026 Rocket Lab completed a full-duration hot fire of the second-stage Archimedes Vacuum (AVac) engine — a critical propulsion milestone toward the debut. CEO Peter Beck has told investors to watch for 'placing of items on test stands' as the near-term progress benchmark on an 'aggressive schedule' to the pad.
Q4 2026
Execute SDA satellite programs after passing TRKT3 SRR
Build and deliver the 18-spacecraft Tracking Layer Tranche 3 constellation for the Space Development Agency under Rocket Lab's $1.3B SDA prime work, with the May 27, 2026 System Requirements Review cleared and the next gates being Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews ahead of spacecraft delivery; Mynaric CONDOR Mk3 laser links are produced in-house.
2026-2027
Sustain Electron cadence toward the 100th launch
With 92 Electron missions flown through the July 1, 2026 'Grain Goddess' launch (iQPS' QPS-SAR-13), sustain Electron's record 2026 tempo across commercial, civil, and defense customers toward the company's 100th launch milestone, including remaining iQPS and Synspective constellation flights (17 more Synspective missions and further iQPS launches are booked).
2026
Convert backlog into higher launch cadence
Turn $2.22B of backlog into higher Electron and HASTE flight tempo across constellation, agency, national-security, and hypersonic missions, with Q2 2026 revenue guided to $225M-$240M.
2026-2028
Build & launch the first GEO satellites for U.S. Space Force
Design, build, integrate, and operate two geostationary satellites hosting the Heimdall space domain awareness payload under a $90M Space Systems Command contract — Rocket Lab's first GEO satellite production program.
Rocket Lab completes full-duration hot fire of Neutron's AVac engine
Rocket Lab said it completed a full-duration hot fire of the Archimedes Vacuum (AVac) engine that will power Neutron's second stage, a critical propulsion milestone toward the medium-lift rocket's first flight. The test clears a major item on the path to Neutron's debut, which the company continues to target for the fourth quarter of 2026 after tank-rupture and other setbacks pushed the schedule back from an earlier 2026 goal. Rocket Lab's smaller Electron rocket has meanwhile posted a record first half of 2026, driving a rise in launch contracts and revenue.
Jul 9
Rocket Lab declares success on Space Force VICTUS HAZE mission
Rocket Lab said on July 7 it completed the U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE tactically responsive space mission with full success, launching its Pioneer spacecraft on an Electron rocket just 16 hours and 42 minutes after the notice to launch — the fastest such response on record. The company commissioned the satellite in 38 hours against a 72-hour deadline and completed on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations — tracking and photographing a target satellite — in under 59 hours. The demonstration showcases the rapid-response capabilities the Space Force wants for national-security missions.
Jun 30
Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium in $8 billion deal
Rocket Lab announced on June 29 a definitive agreement to acquire satellite-communications operator Iridium for $54 per share — $27 in cash plus Rocket Lab stock, with an exchange-ratio collar of $67.50 to $112.50 — for an enterprise value of roughly $8 billion. The board-approved deal pairs Rocket Lab's launch and satellite-manufacturing businesses with Iridium's global L-band low-Earth-orbit network and its 2.5 million-plus subscribers, and is expected to close in mid-2027. Rocket Lab shares jumped about 16% and Iridium climbed roughly 25% on the news.
Jun 28
Rocket Lab launches 10th Synspective satellite on Electron
Rocket Lab launched its 'Ten Owl of Ten' Electron mission on June 26 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, lofting Synspective's 10th Strix synthetic-aperture-radar satellite to a roughly 552-km low Earth orbit. It was Rocket Lab's 12th Electron launch of 2026 and kept the company's recent run of mission successes intact as it builds toward its 100th launch. Synspective has another 17 Electron flights booked to complete its SAR constellation by the end of the decade.
Jun 26
NASA picks Rocket Lab for three Electron science launches
NASA selected Rocket Lab to fly three Electron missions for two science programs, the company announced June 24-25. Two back-to-back launches will carry the twin CubeSats of the PolSIR ice-cloud mission no earlier than June 2027, and a separate launch will loft the TSIS-2 solar-irradiance satellite in early 2027, all from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. NASA cited Electron's flight heritage across more than 90 launches and its deployment accuracy in making the awards, which add to Rocket Lab's government backlog.
Operations & Revenue
StatusOperational
Operational across launch and space systems, with 92 Electron missions flown through the July 1, 2026 'Grain Goddess' launch (iQPS' QPS-SAR-13 to a 575 km LEO), keeping Rocket Lab on track for its 100th launch in 2026. On June 19, 2026 Rocket Lab set a responsive-space record by launching the U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission — flying its own Pioneer spacecraft on Electron just 16 hours 42 minutes after the Notice to Launch. The company has record Q1 2026 revenue of $200.3M, backlog above $2.22B, $1.48B in cash and equivalents, the Mynaric and Motiv acquisitions now closed, joined the Nasdaq-100 on June 22, 2026, and on June 29, 2026 agreed to acquire Iridium Communications for ~$8B (close expected mid-2027). Neutron's first launch is still targeted for Q4 2026 with the flight vehicle being integrated at Wallops.
Revenue Streams
Electron Launch Services
Dedicated and rideshare small-satellite launches for commercial constellations, civil space agencies, and defense customers from New Zealand and Virginia.
HASTE Defense Launch Services
Hypersonic flight-test launches for U.S. and allied defense customers; Rocket Lab signed a $190M, 20-flight HASTE block-buy in March 2026 and a $30M, 3-flight HASTE contract with Anduril in Q1 2026.
Space Systems
Spacecraft manufacturing, satellite components, software, mission operations, and related systems including radios, reaction wheels, star trackers, solar products, and separation systems. Generated $136.7M of Q1 2026 revenue.
Optical Payloads & National Security Systems
Electro-optical and infrared payloads plus precision optomechanical hardware for missile warning, tracking, space domain awareness, and defense missions following the Geost and OSI acquisitions; powering Rocket Lab's $1.3B SDA Tracking Layer prime program.
Laser Optical Communications (Rocket Lab Europe)
Mynaric-built CONDOR Mk3 laser optical communication terminals and follow-on inter-satellite link products for commercial and government constellations including the SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture; produced from the Munich-based Rocket Lab Europe business.
Space Robotics & Precision Mechanisms
Mars-proven robotic arms, actuators, solar array drive assemblies (SADAs), and motion-control systems through the May 2026 Motiv Space Systems acquisition, supporting national security, planetary exploration, and commercial spacecraft programs.
Key Metrics
Employees
~2,800
Est. Annual Revenue
$200.3M in Q1 2026 (+63.5% YoY); Q2 2026 guided to $225M-$240M; FY2025 revenue $602M
Market Cap
~$47B (Jul 8, 2026; $81.34 close, down ~46% from a $150.23 all-time-high close on May 27)
Q1 2026 Revenue
$200.3M (+63.5% YoY); Q2 2026 results expected early August
Total Launches
92 Electron missions through July 1, 2026 ('The Grain Goddess Provides' deployed iQPS' QPS-SAR-13/MIKURA-I to a 575 km LEO after a June 30 last-second abort; Rocket Lab's 13th Electron of 2026) — on track for its 100th launch in 2026
Launch Backlog
$2.22B total backlog (41.5% launch / 58.5% space systems, as of Q1 2026)
Rocket Lab signs a $190M block-buy for 20 HASTE hypersonic test flights, pushing total company backlog above $2B and launch backlog above 70 missions.
2026Record Q1 revenue and Neutron launch wins
Rocket Lab reports record Q1 revenue of $200.3M, backlog above $2.2B, 31 new Electron and HASTE contracts, and five dedicated Neutron launches for a confidential customer.
2026OSI acquisition closes
On February 26, 2026 Rocket Lab completes the acquisition of Optical Support, Inc. (OSI), adding 20 staff and 22,000 sq/ft of precision optomechanical machining and integration capacity to Rocket Lab Optical Systems.
2026Mynaric acquisition closes for $155.3M
On April 14, 2026 Rocket Lab completes the acquisition of Munich-based Mynaric AG for $155.3M, adding CONDOR Mk3 laser optical communications terminals and establishing Rocket Lab's first European footprint as Rocket Lab Europe.
2026Motiv Space Systems acquisition closes
On May 26, 2026 Rocket Lab completes the acquisition of Motiv Space Systems, adding Mars-proven robotic arms, actuators, and solar array drive assemblies — closing a key vertical-integration gap and positioning Rocket Lab for end-to-end Mars missions.
2026$90M U.S. Space Force GEO contract
On May 21, 2026 Rocket Lab is awarded a $90M Space Systems Command contract to design, build, integrate, and operate two geostationary satellites hosting the Heimdall space domain awareness payload — Rocket Lab's first satellite production program for GEO.
2026Insiders cash out $18M after record May rally
On June 1, 2026, four Rocket Lab executives and directors file Form 4 sales totaling about $18M after RKLB notched eight record-high closes in May, led by director Alexander Slusky's $8.96M disposition of 60,000 shares and a $513,345 sale by President Brad Clevenger; COO Frank Klein and General Counsel Arjun Kampani also unload stock under prearranged 10b5-1 plans.
2026SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 3 passes System Requirements Review
On May 27, 2026 Rocket Lab announces it has cleared the System Requirements Review for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) missile-warning and tracking constellation, establishing the technical baseline for the 18-satellite, $816M program built on Rocket Lab's Lightning bus with in-house IR sensors, optical communication terminals, Ka-band payloads, solar arrays, avionics, and propulsion. The milestone takes Rocket Lab's total SDA awards above $1.3B alongside the earlier $515M Transport Layer-Beta Tranche 2 program.
2026Agostino Ricupati named Chief Accounting Officer
Rocket Lab appoints Agostino Ricupati as its new Chief Accounting Officer, effective June 3, 2026, as the company scales its finance organization to support a $2.2B backlog, Neutron development, and a recent run of acquisitions (Mynaric, Motiv, OSI) that has materially expanded reporting complexity.
2026Added to the Nasdaq-100 index
Rocket Lab joined the Nasdaq-100 Index — the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq — before the market open on Monday, June 22, 2026, after announcing the inclusion on June 12. CEO Sir Peter Beck framed it as recognition of the company's journey 'from a small company with big ambitions to a global space leader,' making Rocket Lab one of only a handful of pure-play space companies in a major U.S. large-cap index.
202689th mission: 9th HASTE flight 'Curveball'
In mid-June 2026 Rocket Lab successfully flew its hypersonic HASTE vehicle on the 'Curveball' mission from Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island, Virginia — its 9th HASTE flight and 89th mission overall. The flight kept Rocket Lab's 100% mission success streak intact and advanced its government hypersonic test backlog under the MACH-TB 2.0 program.
2026VICTUS HAZE sets a responsive-space record and completes with full success
On June 19, 2026 Rocket Lab launched the U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission on Electron from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand just 16 hours and 42 minutes after receiving the Notice to Launch — shattering the previous Space Force order-to-launch record by more than 10 hours. For the Space Systems Command Space Safari Program Office, Rocket Lab delivered its own Pioneer spacecraft to orbit, becoming the first single prime contractor to provide the spacecraft, launch vehicle, and on-orbit operations for a Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission. On July 7, 2026 Rocket Lab declared the mission a complete success: Pioneer was fully commissioned in 38 hours (against a 72-hour deadline) and completed on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations — tracking and photographing a target satellite — in under 59 hours, 25 hours ahead of schedule.
2026NASA selects Electron for three Sun and Earth science launches
On June 24, 2026 NASA selected Rocket Lab to fly three Electron missions: two back-to-back launches for the PolSIR ice-cloud CubeSat mission (no earlier than June 2027) and one for the TSIS-2 solar-irradiance satellite (early 2027), all from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. NASA cited Electron's flight heritage across more than 90 launches and its deployment accuracy, adding to Rocket Lab's government launch backlog.
2026'Ten Owl of Ten' lofts Synspective's 10th radar satellite
On June 26, 2026 Rocket Lab launched its 'Ten Owl of Ten' Electron mission from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, delivering Synspective's 10th Strix synthetic-aperture-radar satellite to a roughly 552-km low Earth orbit at 42 degrees inclination. It was Rocket Lab's 12th Electron launch of 2026 and kept its recent mission-success streak intact. The flight continued a dedicated multi-launch deal with Synspective, which has another 17 Electron missions booked to complete its SAR constellation by the end of the decade.
2026Agrees to acquire Iridium for ~$8B — its largest-ever deal
On June 29, 2026 Rocket Lab announced a definitive agreement to acquire satellite-communications operator Iridium Communications for $54.00 per share — roughly half cash and half Rocket Lab stock, about a 24% premium and an enterprise value of approximately $8B. The deal folds Iridium's operational 66-satellite L-band low-Earth-orbit constellation, globally harmonized spectrum, ~2.55 million government, defense, aviation, and maritime subscribers, $871M of 2025 revenue, and 500-plus partner ecosystem into Rocket Lab's launch and satellite-manufacturing stack, creating a vertically integrated design–build–launch–operate space company positioned as a SpaceX/Starlink challenger. Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo committed a $3.6B bridge loan for the cash portion. Both boards unanimously approved; the transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to Iridium stockholder and regulatory approvals.
202692nd mission: 'The Grain Goddess Provides' for iQPS
On July 1, 2026 Rocket Lab launched 'The Grain Goddess Provides' from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand — following a June 30 last-second abort — deploying iQPS' 100 kg QPS-SAR-13 (MIKURA-I) synthetic-aperture-radar satellite to a 575 km circular low Earth orbit. It was Rocket Lab's 92nd mission overall and 13th Electron flight of 2026, its eighth launch for iQPS toward that customer's planned 36-satellite constellation, keeping the company on track for its 100th launch in 2026.
2025Record year and major SDA award
Rocket Lab flies a record 21 Electron and HASTE missions with 100% mission success in 2025 and wins an $816M prime contract to build 18 missile-warning and tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency.
2024Archimedes reaches hot-fire milestone
Rocket Lab successfully hot fires the reusable Archimedes engine, a major technical step toward Neutron's first flight.
2022Electron booster recovery
Successfully catches an Electron first stage mid-air with a helicopter.
2021Goes public via SPAC
Rocket Lab lists on NASDAQ under ticker RKLB via a SPAC merger.
2018First commercial mission
Electron reaches orbit on its second flight, "Still Testing," carrying commercial payloads.
2017First Electron launch
Electron's maiden flight "It's a Test" from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
2006Founded
Peter Beck founds Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand.
