Rocket Lab USA is a full-spectrum space company. They handle everything from rocket launches to satellite manufacturing out of Long Beach, California.
Peter Beck started Rocket Lab in 2006. Since then, they’ve launched over 224 satellites in 63 missions and now trade publicly on NASDAQ.
Rocket Lab USA acts as an end-to-end space company. They offer launch services, spacecraft manufacturing, and satellite components across several continents.
You’ll find their launch sites in New Zealand and Virginia. They also have manufacturing centers in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
Their Electron rocket put Rocket Lab on the map. It’s now the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket.
They’ve completed more than 63 launches for commercial, civil, defense, and academic clients, deploying 224 satellites.
Rocket Lab runs three launch pads and keeps notching up major milestones. They reached orbit for the first time in 2018 and have branched out into advanced spacecraft solutions and satellite tech.
Their facilities include Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, and Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. These sites support a growing launch schedule and a diverse customer base.
Peter Beck created Rocket Lab back in 2006. He still leads the company, shaping its strategy and daily operations.
Under Beck, Rocket Lab broke new ground. They built the first 3D-printed, electric pump-fed rocket engine and the world’s first private orbital launch site.
The leadership team has overseen big expansions. They’ve opened new facilities, acquired other companies, and taken Rocket Lab public.
Beck’s ambitions go beyond small satellites. He’s driving the development of Neutron, their next-gen large launch vehicle designed for constellation and big spacecraft missions.
Rocket Lab USA went public on the NASDAQ in 2021. That move unlocked more capital for their expansion plans.
They’re growing both organically and through acquisitions. Rocket Lab has snapped up Advanced Solutions Inc, Planetary Systems Corporation, and started the process to acquire SolAero.
Their latest efforts include pushing the Neutron rocket program forward and opening new manufacturing sites. Virginia is now home to their Neutron launch site, and they’ve set up an engine test facility at NASA Stennis Space Center.
Rocket Lab USA keeps increasing its launch rate and customer reach. They’ve set new annual records and slashed turnaround times—just 15 days between launches at one point.
Rocket Lab USA’s main headquarters sits in Long Beach, California. They also run key manufacturing and mission operations centers in Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, and Maryland.
These locations support both rocket programs and spacecraft production. It’s a pretty wide network.
Rocket Lab USA made Long Beach, California their main headquarters. This spot serves as the nerve center for corporate strategy and planning.
The Long Beach facility coordinates global operations. It also taps into California’s aerospace talent and supply chain networks.
From here, they manage the Electron small-lift rocket and develop the bigger Neutron rocket system.
Long Beach is where the big decisions happen. The site houses executive leadership and links up all domestic manufacturing and launch activities.
Rocket Lab runs advanced manufacturing centers in Virginia and New Mexico. These support rocket production and spacecraft systems.
Virginia Manufacturing Complex
Wallops Island, Virginia is their main site for Neutron rocket manufacturing and operations. The facility also produces the Archimedes engine for the Neutron program.
In Baltimore County, Maryland, Rocket Lab set up a space structures complex. The Middle River facility focuses on spacecraft components and structural systems.
Western U.S. Operations
New Mexico handles rocket testing and component manufacturing. In Colorado, they’ve expanded their space systems complex to make satellite components and spacecraft subsystems.
Mission operations centers in Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland deliver real-time launch support and spacecraft monitoring. These sites coordinate launches from U.S. and international complexes.
The Virginia center manages Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island. They handle Electron launches from the East Coast and take care of mission planning.
Colorado and Maryland centers focus on spacecraft operations and satellite support. They track deployed satellites and manage on-orbit systems for both government and commercial clients.
By spreading out mission operations, Rocket Lab keeps coverage going around the clock. Each center specializes in certain mission types and can back up the others if needed.
Rocket Lab built up sophisticated launch infrastructure at several sites. Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island is their main U.S. facility.
They’ve developed advanced ground software systems that support both Electron and Neutron rocket operations from these orbital launch sites.
Rocket Lab opened its first U.S. launch pad at Wallops Island, Virginia—Launch Complex 2 at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. This site gives them access to key orbital trajectories for national security and commercial missions.
This Virginia site has some unique perks. Its east coast location allows for great launch windows for polar and sun-synchronous orbits.
The facility operates under FAA commercial space licenses. Only four states can launch missions to Earth orbit and beyond, and Virginia is one of them.
Rocket Lab chose this site for Electron rocket operations. The ocean access helps with range safety.
They can launch satellites up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit from here.
Launch Complex 2 shows Rocket Lab’s focus on growing U.S. launch capability. The facility has a dedicated pad for Electron missions.
The complex features modern propellant handling and automated launch systems.
The site supports quick launch turnarounds. Rocket Lab built it to handle several launches a month if needed.
The pad has specialized gear for their unique small satellite deployment approach.
Neutron manufacturing facilities will rise right next to Launch Complex 2. The 250,000-square-foot complex will sit on a 28-acre site.
Having manufacturing close to the launch pad should cut transportation costs and boost mission flexibility.
Virginia Space owns the launch pad infrastructure. Rocket Lab runs the site under a lease. This setup helps them avoid huge capital costs and still use top-notch spaceport services.
Rocket Lab built its own ground software to manage launches from planning to post-flight. The systems handle vehicle checkouts, weather, and range safety.
Their software connects with NASA Wallops systems for smooth, coordinated operations. This helps them follow federal aviation rules and manage space traffic.
The software collects telemetry and lets controllers track each flight in real time.
Automated systems can stop a launch if safety conditions aren’t met. Controllers rely on these tools to watch vehicle performance through every phase of flight.
Their ground software supports both Electron and future Neutron missions. Rocket Lab designed it to scale up as launch rates and mission complexity grow.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket delivers reliable small satellite launches with quick turnaround. They’ve carved out a leadership spot in responsive space operations, thanks to frequent missions and flexible schedules.
The Electron really changed the game for small-lift launches. It’s a two-stage, partially reusable rocket and ranks as the third most launched small-lift rocket ever.
Rocket Lab built Electron for the commercial small satellite market. The rocket stands 18 meters tall and runs on nine Rutherford engines in its first stage.
Key Technical Features:
The Rutherford engines use 3D printing and electric pumps, ditching traditional gas generators. This move cuts down on complexity and manufacturing costs.
Rocket Lab changed how small satellites get to space. Since January 2018, they’ve flown over 63 missions and put more than 224 satellites in orbit.
Electron is now the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket each year. That says a lot about the demand for these dedicated launches.
Launch Performance Metrics:
They operate three launch pads in two countries. New Zealand’s Launch Complex 1 has two pads, and Virginia’s Launch Complex 2 covers the East Coast.
In 2022, they pulled off a 15-day turnaround between launches. That’s fast, giving customers more options for urgent deployments.
Rocket Lab’s model is all about speed and flexibility. For some missions, they can go from contract to launch in under ten weeks.
This quick response is critical for national security and commercial clients. Agencies and companies who need to move fast don’t have to wait for a big rocket’s schedule.
Operational Advantages:
By focusing on small launches, Rocket Lab skips the hassle of rideshares. Customers get dedicated mission control and can pick their ideal launch time.
Facilities in Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, Maryland, Toronto, and New Zealand support missions across the globe. This spread ensures redundancy and local access for international clients.
Rocket Lab’s Neutron is their big leap into the medium-lift market. It can carry up to 13,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
The reusable launch vehicle is aimed at constellation deployments. They’re introducing carbon composite manufacturing to keep operations efficient and costs down.
Neutron stands 43 meters tall and measures 7 meters in diameter. That’s a big step up from Rocket Lab’s smaller Electron rocket.
You can load up to 13,000 kilograms for low Earth orbit missions. For Mars or Venus, Neutron handles about 1,500 kilograms.
Key specifications include:
Rocket Lab uses nine Archimedes engines on the first stage. They run on liquid oxygen and methane propellant and push out a total of 1,485,000 pounds of thrust.
The engines use an oxidizer-rich closed cycle design. On the second stage, a single vacuum-optimized Archimedes engine provides 890 kilonewtons of thrust for precise orbital insertion.
Both stages feature carbon composite construction. Rocket Lab builds these using the world’s largest automated fiber placement machine.
This approach cuts about 150,000 manufacturing hours per vehicle. That’s a huge time savings.
Neutron takes aim at the growing megaconstellation satellite market. Its payload capacity supports multiple deployment scenarios for companies building large networks in low Earth orbit.
After separation, the reusable first stage flies back to the launch site. This move lowers operational costs for frequent constellation launches.
Launch Complex 3 at Virginia’s Wallops Flight Facility serves as Neutron’s home base. The site supports both launches and first stage recovery for quick turnaround.
Mission capabilities include:
The captive fairing design lets Rocket Lab reuse both the first stage and payload shroud. This saves money on hardware between flights and keeps payloads protected during ascent.
Rocket Lab has introduced several manufacturing innovations for Neutron. At the Space Structures Complex in Maryland, a 90-tonne automated fiber placement machine creates large carbon composite structures with minimal human labor.
Engineers test the Archimedes engines at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. They’ve completed multiple hot fire tests, proving out the liquid oxygen and methane propulsion system.
Development milestones keep stacking up. Stage 2 qualification testing is done, and structural and cryogenic tests have validated the upper stage for flight.
Recent achievements include:
Next up: static fire testing for both stages before the first launch. Stage 1’s static fire will run all nine engines at once, mimicking real flight conditions.
Neutron marks Rocket Lab’s jump into direct competition with established medium-lift providers. The company brings its small satellite experience and ramps up manufacturing for the expanding commercial space market.
Rocket Lab runs a sophisticated spacecraft production complex in Long Beach, California. Here, the team designs and builds configurable spacecraft platforms.
They use vertical integration to keep control over every step, from design concepts all the way to final testing.
Rocket Lab’s engineers develop flexible medium delta-V platforms designed for a wide range of missions. Their Pioneer spacecraft is a good example—it provides power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for all sorts of payloads.
The design process starts with mission-specific requirements analysis. Engineers configure each spacecraft with reliable subsystems like star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, and flight software.
All these components come from Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated supply chain.
Key design capabilities include:
Engineers use composite structures throughout the spacecraft. These materials balance strength and weight while maintaining structural integrity during launch and in orbit.
Rocket Lab’s configurable spacecraft design lets them quickly adapt to different missions. This flexibility cuts down on development time and costs.
The Long Beach production facility includes cleanrooms for final integration work. Technicians handle assembly under strict quality control.
Integration kicks off with the spacecraft bus assembly. Technicians install subsystems in a set order, starting with core structural elements, then moving to electrical and propulsion components.
The integration process includes:
Testing comes next. Engineers run functional tests, thermal vacuum cycles, and vibration simulations to mimic launch conditions.
The team recently finished integrating Varda Space Industries’ second Pioneer spacecraft. That shows Rocket Lab can deliver flight-proven spacecraft on time for commercial clients.
Quality assurance protocols ensure each spacecraft meets its mission specs. Technicians document every step and test, creating detailed records for post-mission analysis and future improvements.
Rocket Lab offers four main spacecraft platforms, covering missions from low Earth orbit to interplanetary flights. They also build custom spacecraft solutions for commercial, defense, and civil customers.
Photon is Rocket Lab’s original spacecraft platform. It’s a modified Electron kick stage that handles power, propulsion, and communications for low Earth orbit missions.
Photon weighs 200–300 kg and flies only on Electron rockets. It’s used for responsive space missions and tricky operations like cryogenic fuel demos.
Recent Photon missions include NASA’s LOXSAT for cryogenic fluid management. The VICTUS HAZE mission used Photon for Space Force tactical response, worth $32 million.
Pioneer is built for medium delta-V missions with payloads up to 120 kg. It supports re-entry and dynamic space operations.
Varda Space Industries picked Pioneer for pharmaceutical manufacturing in orbit. The first Pioneer launched in June 2023 and made it back to Earth in February 2024.
Lightning targets high-power, long-life missions with more than 12 years in orbit. This 3kW bus includes redundant systems for telecom and remote sensing.
Globalstar selected Lightning for 17 spacecraft in their constellation. The Space Development Agency awarded Rocket Lab a $515 million contract using customized Lightning platforms.
Explorer unlocks interplanetary missions to Mars, Venus, and the Moon. The platform features big propellant tanks and deep space avionics.
Explorer proved itself on NASA’s CAPSTONE moon mission in 2022. It also forms the basis for NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft heading to Mars.
Rocket Lab builds specialized spacecraft beyond the standard lineup. These custom designs use flight-proven parts like star trackers, reaction wheels, and proprietary flight software.
The company keeps vertical integration across spacecraft components. In-house manufacturing covers propulsion, solar arrays, composite structures, and avionics.
More than 1,700 spacecraft use Rocket Lab satellite components. The Long Beach facility features an 11,000-square-foot cleanroom with thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
Custom platforms fit unique mission profiles, from tech demos to big constellations. Rocket Lab adapts each design while sticking to proven hardware and cost efficiency.
Rocket Lab keeps tight control over spacecraft quality by vertically integrating critical satellite components. They manufacture essential subsystems in-house and run rigorous tests to ensure mission success.
Rocket Lab designs and builds spacecraft components at multiple facilities to avoid supply chain delays. They produce star trackers, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems themselves.
Power Systems: Solar panels and arrays come from SolAero Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These supply reliable power for everything from low Earth orbit to interplanetary missions.
Guidance and Control: Star trackers keep spacecraft pointed in the right direction. Reaction wheels handle attitude control without burning fuel.
Communications Equipment: Rocket Lab builds S-band and L-band radios for communication. Their flight and ground software keeps data flowing between spacecraft and mission control.
Structural Components: Composite structures and tanks house all the systems. Separation systems ensure clean deployment from launch vehicles.
They qualify every spacecraft component before flight integration.
Vertical integration covers over 1,700 successful missions worldwide. This strategy lets Rocket Lab make quick design changes and control costs.
Rocket Lab operates an 11,000-square-foot cleanroom in Long Beach. The facility includes thermal vacuum chambers, vibration rigs, and electromagnetic compatibility test gear.
Environmental Testing: Spacecraft parts go through thermal vacuum tests to mimic space. Vibration testing checks components can survive launch.
Systems Integration: Each spacecraft gets full systems testing before launch. Components are qualified individually, then verified at the spacecraft level.
Flight Heritage Validation: Components earn flight heritage through multiple missions before they’re used in new spacecraft. Rocket Lab tracks performance data to improve future designs.
Testing protocols meet NASA standards for planetary missions and commercial satellites. The qualification process ensures components work reliably for missions lasting months or even 12+ years.
Rocket Lab runs satellites from three dedicated control centers worldwide. They provide mission support from deployment all the way to end-of-life.
The company manages spacecraft communications through ground station partnerships. They also deliver real-time data processing for customers around the globe.
Rocket Lab’s satellite operations centers are in Long Beach, Auckland, and Littleton, Colorado. These facilities deliver 24/7 mission support for spacecraft in all kinds of orbits.
Operations teams get to work right after launch, commissioning spacecraft and checking that all systems function. They establish communication links with ground stations.
Mission controllers monitor spacecraft health by watching telemetry data. They track power, temperature, and component status.
If something goes wrong, operators step in with contingency procedures to protect the spacecraft.
Rocket Lab offers flexible operations contracts. Some customers want full-service management, while others prefer to run their own satellites with Rocket Lab backing them up for critical phases.
The operations centers use MAX Flight Software for control. This software has supported over 50 missions and handles automated functions for routine operations.
Customer support kicks off during mission planning and sticks around for the entire orbital lifetime.
Rocket Lab teams up with customers to figure out how new missions should operate before anything ever leaves the ground.
They offer mission-specific training for customer operators. Teams get hands-on with ground systems and learn spacecraft procedures, whether they’re at Rocket Lab’s facilities or their own.
Operations engineers write detailed flight scripts for each phase. These scripts take care of tricky stuff like orbital maneuvers and payload ops.
They always test these scripts thoroughly before running them on actual spacecraft.
Real-time support comes into play when things go sideways or need tweaking. If a spacecraft hits an unexpected snag, Rocket Lab engineers jump in to analyze and fix the problem fast.
They keep up detailed mission logs and send out regular status reports to customers. Those reports cover spacecraft health, data stats, and what’s coming up next.
Rocket Lab works with KSAT to give customer missions global ground station coverage. This setup means satellites can check in from all over the world as they pass overhead.
The company also runs its own ground stations for critical moments. These stations offer backup comms and extra support when missions need a little more attention.
The MAX Ground Data System takes spacecraft telemetry and payload data, turning raw radio signals into something customers can actually use. They process the data in real time during ground station passes.
Ground networks handle different data rates based on mission needs. Low Earth orbit missions usually get higher data rates since they’re closer to home. Interplanetary missions like CAPSTONE use special deep space communication protocols.
Customers get their data through secure networks. Rocket Lab offers delivery options like real-time streaming, batch transfers, or cloud access, depending on what works best for each customer.
Rocket Lab has built a reputation on key partnerships with NASA and the Department of Defense, while also diving into commercial projects that really push the limits of space tech.
The Electron rocket has launched satellites for lunar missions, quick-turnaround national security programs, and even some wild manufacturing experiments in orbit.
Rocket Lab launched NASA’s CAPSTONE CubeSat in June 2022 on an Electron rocket.
This mission tried out the orbital path for NASA’s future lunar Gateway space station.
The tiny satellite made its way to the Moon with a super-efficient ballistic transfer. CAPSTONE spent four months proving out the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon.
Mission Details:
Rocket Lab’s work on this mission helped NASA’s Artemis program move forward. The mission’s success opened up new opportunities for more lunar and deep space flights using Rocket Lab’s tech.
CAPSTONE showed that small satellites can handle complex deep space jobs. The mission cost a lot less than traditional lunar projects, but still delivered critical data for NASA’s Moon plans.
Rocket Lab backs the U.S. Space Force with the Victus Haze mission, part of the Tactically Responsive Space program.
This program tests how fast satellites can launch for national security needs.
They have to launch satellites within days of getting the green light. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket can deliver that kind of speed, which is exactly what military teams want.
Program Features:
Rocket Lab has handled over 40 Electron launches for government clients. These flights include classified payloads for security and research.
Their solid track record with defense contracts has made them a trusted partner. Military customers count on Rocket Lab’s reliability and quick launch turnarounds for high-priority missions.
Rocket Lab teams up with Varda Space Industries to make manufacturing in space—and bringing those products back—actually happen.
This partnership combines Rocket Lab’s launch services with Varda’s automated manufacturing platforms.
Varda’s spacecraft produce materials like fiber optics and pharmaceuticals in microgravity. Space’s zero-g environment creates products you just can’t make on Earth.
Partnership Components:
The first Varda mission launched in 2023 to test out their manufacturing and return systems. Future missions aim to ramp up production of commercial materials made in space.
This partnership is a glimpse at a new space economy. Now, companies can actually make products in orbit and send them back for sale on Earth.
Rocket Lab’s U.S. operations drive critical Earth observation missions, help with space debris cleanup, and power big constellation deployments for commercial and government clients.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket puts Earth observation satellites into orbit to track environmental changes all over the globe.
Since 2018, they’ve launched over 200 satellites, many focused on weather, agriculture, and city growth.
Climate monitoring satellites measure greenhouse gases and ocean temps. Scientists use this data to study climate change. Frequent launches let Rocket Lab quickly replace satellites when needed.
Government agencies count on Rocket Lab for missions that track environmental threats. Private companies use their services to monitor supply chains and resources. Small satellites make it affordable to keep eyes on the planet 24/7.
Recent Space Force contracts show how important these observation tools are for defense. They support both science and military operations that need up-to-date environmental info.
Rocket Lab plays an active role in space debris mitigation with specialized satellites and responsible launches.
They send up satellites that track and catalog space junk in Earth’s orbit.
These tracking satellites help prevent crashes between working spacecraft and debris. Their data feeds into worldwide efforts to map out dangerous debris fields.
Mission planners use this info to design safer flight paths.
Rocket Lab also builds satellites that can deorbit themselves, so they don’t turn into future debris. End-of-life systems make sure satellites burn up in the atmosphere, not hang around forever.
Their frequent launches mean they can quickly replace debris-trackers, keeping the coverage going as the space debris problem grows.
Large-scale constellation launches are a big part of Rocket Lab’s U.S. work.
They specialize in sending up multiple small satellites at once to build out communication and observation networks.
Satellite deployment services include precise orbital delivery for constellation clients. Electron can put satellites into multiple orbital planes in one go, cutting down the time it takes to get a full network up and running.
Commercial operators pick Rocket Lab for their fast launch schedules. Dedicated launches mean customers don’t have to share rides or compromise on timing.
Government constellation programs benefit too. The Space Development Agency picked Rocket Lab for transport layer satellite deployments, helping build secure communication networks for defense.
Rocket Lab isn’t just about launches anymore—they’re moving into microgravity research, advanced spacecraft manufacturing, and all sorts of next-gen space tech.
Their growth in these fields could really shake up the commercial space industry in the next few years.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket creates new chances for microgravity research and manufacturing tests.
They’ve worked with research groups to run materials science experiments during flight.
Small satellites from Rocket Lab allow for longer microgravity experiments in orbit. These missions try out manufacturing methods that just don’t work on Earth.
Their Photon spacecraft platform acts as a testbed for in-space manufacturing tech. Photon missions carry automated systems to make fiber optics, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials in zero gravity.
Research teams use Rocket Lab’s frequent launches to quickly iterate on experiments. The 25-day turnaround between recent missions shows how fast they can test new ideas.
Manufacturing in space makes it possible to produce ultra-pure crystals and specialized alloys. Rocket Lab’s affordable launches help make these projects possible for commercial use.
Rocket Lab has poured resources into automated spacecraft production at its facilities.
At the Maryland Space Structures Complex, advanced fiber placement machines build large spacecraft parts.
Production time for major components has dropped a lot. The 28-meter interstage for Neutron now takes just 24 hours to make with automated systems.
3D printing systems from Nikon SLM Solutions let Rocket Lab prototype complex parts fast. These huge machines turn out components with precision that old-school manufacturing can’t match.
Satellite production benefits from these streamlined processes. Rocket Lab now builds complete satellites, not just rockets.
The Neutron rocket program pushes innovation in how they make spacecraft. This 110-ton reusable vehicle needs manufacturing methods that can handle big, complex missions.
Rocket Lab keeps moving forward with reusable rocket tech through its sea-based recovery program.
The “Return On Investment” barge uses autonomous systems to catch rocket stages as they return.
Their hypersonic test program—worth $1.45 billion—pushes defense research. These fast testing cycles support national security development.
Launch Complex 3 in Virginia boosts Rocket Lab’s capacity for both government and commercial launches. This site allows for land-based rocket recovery, too.
International partnerships, like with the European Space Agency, show Rocket Lab’s tech is ready for high-stakes missions. Their first ESA contract opens doors in Europe.
Advanced manufacturing cuts down part counts and speeds up assembly. Rocket Lab’s focus on automation and precision is setting new efficiency standards for the industry.
Rocket Lab USA runs as a full-spectrum space company with unique rocket tech, multiple launch sites, and a steady stream of missions. They focus on small satellite deployment and have built a solid record of successful launches and new tech.
Rocket Lab USA has two main rocket systems for different payload sizes.
The Electron rocket is their workhorse and has become the second most-launched U.S. rocket each year.
Electron features 3D-printed Rutherford engines with electric pumps—pretty cutting-edge stuff. This small-lift rocket specializes in sending small to medium satellites to a variety of orbits.
They’re also developing Neutron, a bigger reusable rocket for future constellation and heavy spacecraft missions. Neutron will handle larger payloads and meet the rising demand for bigger satellite launches.
Rocket Lab launches from several sites in different countries and states.
Launch Complex 1 is in Mahia, New Zealand—it’s actually the world’s first private orbital launch site.
They built Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, USA. Construction wrapped in 2019, and their first successful launch there happened in 2023.
Rocket Lab picked Virginia for its Neutron launch site and a big manufacturing complex. They also have facilities in Long Beach, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Maryland, and Toronto.
Rocket Lab keeps a pretty active launch schedule, with several missions happening every year. In 2022, they pulled off nine successful Electron missions and have completed 63 launches overall.
They really showed off their quick turnaround skills when they managed just 15 days between two launches—their fastest interval so far. After opening Pad B at Launch Complex 1, they launched the first mission from there within a week, which is honestly impressive.
As Rocket Lab adds more launch sites, their launch frequency just keeps going up. With two pads now, they can schedule missions closer together and cut down on downtime.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket focuses on small to medium-class satellites and handles a variety of mission types. They’ve already delivered 224 satellites to orbit for customers in commercial, civil, defense, and academic fields.
Their payload customers include big names like NASA, DARPA, NRO, and the United States Space Force. On the commercial side, they work with companies like BlackSky, Planet, Capella Space, and several international groups.
Electron can carry multiple satellites at once through rideshare missions. Past launches have included payloads from countries like Sweden, Japan, Germany, Scotland, Finland, New Zealand, France, and the U.S.
Rocket Lab puts a lot of effort into making small satellite launches both affordable and accessible. Since they started commercial operations, they’ve sent more than 200 satellites into orbit.
The Electron rocket was built with small satellites in mind, offering flexible launch schedules. Customers can book a dedicated launch or just share a ride with others.
But Rocket Lab doesn’t stop at launching. They also build spacecraft, subsystems, and parts—things like solar panels, structures, software, and communication systems. So, it’s not just about getting to orbit; they help with the whole package.
Rocket Lab made history in 2009. They became the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space with their Atea-1 launch.
In 2013, Rocket Lab built the Rutherford Engine—the first 3D-printed, electric pump-fed rocket engine. That’s not something you see every day.
They pulled off their first successful orbital launch in 2018 and got customer payloads into space. It was a big step forward for the company.
Rocket Lab also launched NASA’s CAPSTONE mission to the Moon using their Electron and Photon spacecraft. That’s a pretty serious achievement.
Recently, Rocket Lab ran successful rocket stage recovery tests. They even tested reused engines, which is kind of impressive.
In 2021, the company went public on NASDAQ. Since then, they’ve acquired several aerospace companies to keep growing their capabilities.
