Rocket Lab Schedules Launch for First of Multiple Missions for BlackSky

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has announced its upcoming mission 'Fasten Your Space Belts' to launch BlackSky's first Gen-3 satellite. The launch is scheduled from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, with a launch window opening February 18th UTC.

This marks Rocket Lab's ninth launch for BlackSky since 2019, making it BlackSky's most prolific launch provider. The mission will deploy the satellite to a circular 470km orbit, representing BlackSky's first Gen-3 satellite in their mid-inclination, Earth-imaging constellation.

The launch will be Rocket Lab's second mission of 2025 and its 60th Electron launch overall. It follows a record year of 16 successful launches in 2024. The mission will increase Rocket Lab's total satellite deployment count to 210.

Positive

• Secured multiple-launch contract with BlackSky
• Continues strong relationship as BlackSky's primary launch provider
• Demonstrates vertical integration with proprietary separation system
• Building on momentum after record 16 successful launches in 2024

Negative

• None.

Insights

Space Industry Analyst

The announcement of multiple launches for BlackSky represents a significant strategic development for Rocket Lab, highlighting several key business advantages:

Strategic Partnership Expansion: This bulk order demonstrates the strength of Rocket Lab's reliable launch services, with the company securing its position as BlackSky's primary launch provider. The continued partnership validates Rocket Lab's competitive positioning in the small satellite launch market and suggests strong recurring revenue potential.

Vertical Integration Benefits: The inclusion of Rocket Lab's Motorized Lightband separation systems showcases their successful vertical integration strategy, which: 1) Increases margins through in-house component manufacturing 2) Enhances launch reliability through end-to-end control 3) Creates additional revenue streams beyond pure launch services

Market Position Strengthening: The expansion into BlackSky's Gen-3 satellite deployment indicates Rocket Lab's ability to serve advanced technological requirements, particularly in the high-value defense and intelligence sector. This positions the company well for capturing market share in the growing national security space segment.

Operational Excellence: The achievement of 16 successful launches in 2024 and the approaching milestone of 60 total Electron launches demonstrates exceptional operational execution. This track record is particularly appealing to constellation operators who require reliable, consistent access to space.

The development of BlackSky's Gen-3 constellation, featuring enhanced resolution and lower latency, suggests growing demand in the earth observation market, potentially leading to additional launch opportunities for Rocket Lab. The company's ability to secure bulk launch orders indicates strong customer confidence and provides improved revenue visibility for investors.

The mission, Rocket Lab’s ninth launch for BlackSky overall, will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand in February.

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 it will soon launch a satellite on a dedicated Electron mission, the first of a bulk order of multiple missions for real-time space-based intelligence company BlackSky (NYSE: BSKY).

The mission, named “Fasten Your Space Belts”, will launch from Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on February 18^th UTC. The mission will launch the first Gen-3 satellite in BlackSky’s mid-inclination, Earth-imaging constellation to a circular 470km orbit. The mission is the ninth launch for BlackSky since 2019, making Rocket Lab the most prolific launch provider for BlackSky’s constellation to date.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Electron is a trusted and reliable constellation builder for companies like BlackSky, allowing them to be in control of how, when, and where to deploy their constellation. BlackSky is one of our earliest and longest-standing commercial satellite customers, and it’s great to be heading back to the pad with them once again to continue to advance and expand their constellation.”

“This launch represents a major inflection point for our global defense and intelligence customer base as BlackSky introduces low-latency, very high-resolution Gen-3 satellite to our dynamic, high-frequency monitoring constellation,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “As more Gen-3 satellites complete production, we expect a regular cadence of additional launches over the coming year.”

The mission will bring the total number of satellites delivered to space by Rocket Lab to 210 and follows a record year of 16 successful launches 2024. Each mission for BlackSky includes a Rocket Lab Motorized Lightband separation system for BlackSky’s satellites, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s vertical integration strategy and ability to provide commercial launch, satellite, and spacecraft components solutions across the mission spectrum.

“Fasten Your Space Belts” will be Rocket Lab’s second mission of 2025 and its 60^th Electron launch overall. Rocket Lab’s 2025 launch manifest includes Electron missions for commercial and government customers, as well as HASTE missions from Launch Complex 2. Launch windows for each will be announced in due course.

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.

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, 2022, 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/20250210391948/en/

Rocket Lab Media Contact

Murielle Baker

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

When is Rocket Lab's next BlackSky satellite launch (RKLB)?

Rocket Lab's next BlackSky satellite launch is scheduled for February 18th UTC from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

What is the significance of BlackSky's Gen-3 satellite launch for RKLB?

This launch represents Rocket Lab's ninth mission for BlackSky and will deploy their first Gen-3 satellite, featuring low-latency and very high-resolution capabilities for defense and intelligence customers.

How many satellites has Rocket Lab (RKLB) launched to date?

After this mission, Rocket Lab will have delivered 210 satellites to space.

How many successful launches did RKLB complete in 2024?

Rocket Lab completed a record 16 successful launches in 2024.

What is the target orbit for the upcoming RKLB BlackSky mission?

The BlackSky satellite will be deployed to a circular 470km orbit.