Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch Just Eight Days After Previous Mission

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced its 52nd Electron mission, scheduled to launch from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula during a 14-day window opening on August 11th. The mission will deploy Capella Space's Acadia-3 SAR satellite to a 615km circular orbit. This launch comes just eight days after Rocket Lab's previous mission, showcasing the company's rapid launch capabilities.

This upcoming mission will be Rocket Lab's tenth launch for 2024, matching their annual record set in 2023. It marks the fifth launch for Capella Space, contributing to their Earth-imaging constellation. Rocket Lab is also providing a custom extended fairing and separation system for the satellite.

Positive

• Rapid turnaround of 8 days between launches demonstrates operational efficiency
• 10th launch of 2024, matching the company's annual record set in 2023
• Continued business from repeat customer Capella Space (5th launch)
• Providing additional services beyond launch, including custom fairing and separation system

Negative

• None.

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 has scheduled the launch for its 52^nd Electron mission which will deploy a single satellite for American space tech company Capella Space (“Capella”).

The mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on August 11^th from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission will deploy Capella’s Acadia-3 SAR satellite, a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Earth imagery and observation, to a mid-inclination 615km circular orbit to add to Capella’s existing SAR satellite constellation.

This 52^nd Electron launch by Rocket Lab comes just eight days after the previous launch of Electron on August 3^rd for another constellation customer, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s responsive launch capability for the global satellite industry. This upcoming mission for Capella will be Rocket Lab’s tenth mission for 2024, equaling the Company’s annual launch record set in 2023.

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s fifth launch for Capella to build out the company’s Earth-imaging constellation. In addition to the launch service, Rocket Lab is providing Capella Space with a custom extended fairing for the Acadia-3 satellite on Electron and a separation system produced by Rocket Lab.

‘A Sky Full Of SARs’ mission details:

• Launch window: NET Sunday August 11, NZST/UTC.
• Launch location: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia.
• Launch Vehicle: Electron.
• Satellite Operator: Capella Space.
• Payload: SAR Earth-imaging Acadia satellite.
• Orbital Destination: 615km circular Earth orbit.

+ 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 190+ 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 Photon spacecraft platform has 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/20240807163035/en/

+ Rocket Lab Media Contact

Murielle Baker

media@rocketlabusa.com

Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

FAQ

When is Rocket Lab's 52nd Electron mission scheduled to launch?

Rocket Lab's 52nd Electron mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on August 11th, 2024, from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

What satellite is Rocket Lab (RKLB) deploying in its upcoming mission?

Rocket Lab is deploying Capella Space's Acadia-3 SAR satellite, a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Earth imagery and observation, to a 615km circular orbit.

How many days after its previous mission is Rocket Lab (RKLB) launching this new mission?

Rocket Lab is launching this new mission just eight days after its previous Electron launch on August 3rd, 2024.

How many launches has Rocket Lab (RKLB) completed in 2024 so far?

This upcoming mission will be Rocket Lab's tenth launch for 2024, equaling the company's annual launch record set in 2023.