Airbus Awards Rocket Lab Contract to Power Next-Gen OneWeb Constellation for Eutelsat

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (RKLB) has secured a contract from Airbus Constellation Satellites to supply high-efficiency solar panels for 100 OneWeb Low Earth Orbit satellites for Eutelsat Group. The company will provide 200 solar panels, including carbon composite panel substrates, solar cells, and photovoltaic assemblies, manufactured at their Albuquerque facility.

The panels will generate approximately 80 kW of power for the constellation, which aims to provide high-speed, low-latency global internet access to remote areas. This follows Rocket Lab's previous delivery of over 450 shipsets of solar array panels to Airbus for their first OneWeb fleet. The new satellites are targeted for delivery in 2026.

Positive

• Secured major contract for 200 solar panels for OneWeb satellites
• Extends existing relationship with Airbus following previous 450 shipset delivery
• Contract supports long-term revenue stream with delivery targeted for 2026

Negative

• None.

Insights

Space Industry Analyst

Rocket Lab's contract to supply solar panels for 100 OneWeb satellites represents a significant expansion of their space systems business and demonstrates the company's successful diversification beyond launch services. This is a repeat customer win following their previous delivery of 450 shipsets to Airbus for the first-generation OneWeb constellation, indicating strong customer satisfaction with their components.

The technical specifications are substantial – each satellite requires two solar panels, totaling 200 panels that will collectively generate approximately 80 kW of power. Manufacturing at their dedicated 150,000 square-foot New Mexico facility showcases Rocket Lab's vertical integration capabilities and production capacity for high-value spacecraft components.

This contract reinforces Rocket Lab's position in the competitive satellite component supply chain, particularly for large LEO constellations. By securing this role in Eutelsat's next-generation OneWeb satellites, Rocket Lab establishes itself as a trusted supplier in the global satellite internet infrastructure sector, which continues to see significant deployment activity.

The 2026 delivery timeline provides manufacturing revenue visibility for the next several years and potentially positions Rocket Lab for additional component contracts as the constellation expands. This award validates their strategic expansion into spacecraft components as a complement to their launch services, creating a more balanced business with multiple revenue streams.

Financial Analyst

The Airbus contract represents an important strategic win for Rocket Lab's financial profile by strengthening its recurring revenue streams outside its launch business. While the contract value remains undisclosed, supplying components for 100 satellites constitutes a meaningful manufacturing program that will utilize their New Mexico production facility through the 2026 delivery target.

This award is particularly valuable as it comes from a repeat customer, demonstrating Rocket Lab's ability to win follow-on business after successful execution. The expansion from their previous 450 shipsets to this new 200-panel order indicates Rocket Lab has established a competitive position in high-reliability spacecraft components.

From a business diversification perspective, this contract further balances Rocket Lab's revenue mix beyond launch services, which have historically been subject to schedule variability and launch cadence limitations. The space systems division provides more predictable manufacturing revenue that can offset the inherent volatility in the launch segment.

For investors, this contract highlights Rocket Lab's execution on its vertical integration strategy, transforming from a pure launch provider to an end-to-end space company with multiple business lines. The ability to secure component contracts from major aerospace customers like Airbus validates their technology and manufacturing capabilities while providing revenue visibility extending into 2026.

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced its selection by Airbus Constellation Satellites to provide high efficiency, space grade solar panels for 100 OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites for Eutelsat Group. OneWeb satellites are designed to provide high-speed, low-latency global internet access to remote and underserved areas.

Rocket Lab will provide 200 solar panels, inclusive of carbon composite panel substrates, solar cells, and photovoltaic assemblies. These panels will be manufactured at Rocket Lab’s 150,000 square-foot space solar production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Rocket Lab’s panels will provide the large LEO constellation with approximately 80 kW of power, enough to power 16 Hubble-sized space telescopes.

Brad Clevenger, Vice President of Space Systems at Rocket Lab, stated, "We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Airbus by providing our world-leading space solar panels to power Eutelsat’s next-gen OneWeb constellation. This collaboration will see 100 more satellites equipped with Rocket Lab technology, ensuring dependable, cutting-edge solutions that advance global connectivity."

In 2021, Rocket Lab provided more than 450 shipsets of solar array panels to Airbus for their first fleet of OneWeb satellites. Airbus is set to build the first batch of their next-gen 100 satellites with delivery targeted for 2026.

Learn more about Rocket Lab’s Space Solar Solutions: Solar Solutions | Rocket Lab

+ 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 spacecraft platforms, 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 over 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 spacecraft platforms 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250312232972/en/

+ Rocket Lab Media Contact

Lindsay McLaurin

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

What is the size of Rocket Lab's solar panel contract with Airbus for OneWeb satellites?

Rocket Lab will provide 200 solar panels for 100 OneWeb satellites, generating approximately 80 kW of power.

When will Airbus deliver the next-generation OneWeb satellites equipped with RKLB solar panels?

Delivery of the 100 next-generation OneWeb satellites is targeted for 2026.

How many solar panel shipsets has RKLB previously supplied to Airbus for OneWeb?

Rocket Lab provided over 450 shipsets of solar array panels to Airbus for their first fleet of OneWeb satellites in 2021.

Where will RKLB manufacture the solar panels for the OneWeb constellation?

The solar panels will be manufactured at Rocket Lab's 150,000 square-foot space solar production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.