Neutron launch contract for U.S. Air Force - Flying on a return-to-earth mission NET 2026
Long Beach, CALIF. May 8, 2025. Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
(Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch
services and space systems, today announced it will launch its new medium-lift
reusable rocket Neutron for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for a
Rocket Cargo mission that supports point-to-point cargo transportation,
establishing a new era of commercial launch capability to advance global
defense logistics for the nation. The mission is scheduled for a return-to-Earth
Neutron launch no earlier than 2026.
The launch contract will see Neutron execute a Rocket Cargo
survivability experiment under the AFRL Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile
Logistics (REGAL) solicitation, an effort by the Department of Defense to
create a rocket-based point-to-point transportation system to quickly and
rapidly deliver cargo around the world with commercial launch providers. AFRL’s
experiment will be launched by Neutron and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, in a
demonstration of re-entry capability for future REGAL missions.
Rocket Lab’s Neutron medium-lift reusable launch vehicle
will provide both government and commercial customers with an alternative and
reliable launch service capable of deploying 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
Neutron is tailored to deploy constellations and national security missions as
well as science and exploration payloads. In addition to serving customers with
greater affordability in the medium-launch market, Neutron is key to Rocket
Lab’s strategy as an end-to-end space company preparing to deploy its own
constellations and deliver services from space in the future.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Neutron
is a powerful new launch option that will set a new standard for performance,
affordability, and reliability for government and commercial space users in
medium launch. This opportunity for the U.S. Air Force not only helps to
advance space logistics, it also demonstrates a high degree of confidence by
the DOD in Neutron’s capabilities. Anticipation is high for Neutron’s inaugural
flight this year, and we’re excited to showcase Neutron as a platform for
R&D for point-to-point logistics for the DoD.”
Neutron is strongly positioned to capitalize on the
medium-lift launch requirements for future government and commercial missions.
Recently Significant progress continues to be made at the rocket’s launch pad
on Wallops Island, Virginia, with the site’s completion expected in the next
few weeks. Production, infrastructure scaling, and both Archimedes engine and
full-scale components testing is continuing at pace across Rocket Lab’s various
production and test facilities in the United States. Neutron’s debut remains on
track for first launch in the second half of 2025.
About Neutron
Rocket Lab’s new reusable medium-lift rocket Neutron is a
next-generation challenger to deliver a cost-effective, reliable, and
responsive launch service for commercial and government missions. The advanced
design of Neutron includes carbon composite for all of the rocket’s major
structures and an innovative upper stage that enables high-performance for
complex satellite deployments, including the deployment of satellite
mega-constellations. The Neutron launch vehicle is a reusable launch vehicle
leveraging the technology and infrastructure pioneered by the Electron launch
vehicle, which has launched 63 times to date and provides the US government and
commercial customers frequent, affordable access to space. Neutron utilizes a
unique design that brings the Stage 1 and payload fairings back to Earth as a
single, integrated stage. This maximizes cadence in a 13-ton to orbit reusable
performance capability. Neutron is powered by nine Archimedes engines on Stage
1, and one vacuum-optimized Archimedes engine on Stage 2. Neutron operates from
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 (LC-3) located at Wallops Island, Virginia from the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company
with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch
services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management
solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space.
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures
the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, a family of flight proven
spacecraft, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018,
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently
launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 200+ satellites to orbit for
private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national
security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation,
climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s family of spacecraft have
been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the
first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at
two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site
located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.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, 2023, 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 www.rocketlabusa.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.
Source: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
