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Rocket Lab Corporation reports developments in launch services and space systems for civil, defense and commercial space customers. The company designs and manufactures Electron and Neutron launch vehicles, the Photon satellite platform, and spacecraft components used in missions for national security, scientific research, Earth observation, communications and other orbital applications.
Company news commonly covers launch contracts, mission awards, hypersonic test activity through HASTE, progress on Neutron, Space Systems products such as star trackers, and operating results tied to backlog, revenue and program execution. Updates also include defense partnerships, customer manifests, acquisitions that expand the space systems portfolio, and capital-structure matters.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully completed its 93rd Electron mission, ‘The Lightning God Defends’, launching from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 1:04 a.m. NZST on August 21, 2026. The rocket deployed an iQPS QPS-SAR Earth-imaging satellite into a 575 km low Earth orbit, marking the 14th Electron launch of the year and the ninth successful QPS-SAR deployment for iQPS. According to Rocket Lab, iQPS has nine additional dedicated Electron launches booked to complete its SAR constellation by 2030.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced its selection by the U.S. Space Force for onboarding into the Space Data Network (SDN) Consortium, supporting the Space Data Network Backbone (SDN-B) for secure, high-speed global military satellite communications.
Rocket Lab was competitively awarded two delivery orders totaling $12 million to design, test, and demonstrate secure optical communications interoperability in space. The company will use a Rocket Lab-built Photon spacecraft with advanced optical and networking capabilities for an in-orbit demonstration, with an operational SDN-B demonstration expected in 2027. According to Rocket Lab, participation in the SDN Consortium and these delivery orders positions it for potential future opportunities supporting U.S. Space Force communications infrastructure.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) has been onboarded to the U.S. Space Force’s NITE-STAR (NSTTC Innovative Technology & Engineering – Space Test and Range) IDIQ contract, which has a $981 million contract ceiling for advanced space test and training infrastructure.
Managed by Space Systems Command, NITE-STAR aims to develop distributed test and training architectures, including space-based and ground systems, digital environments, and sustainment of operational systems. As an awardee, Rocket Lab is now eligible to compete for task orders, positioning it to apply its satellite development, space software, systems engineering, and mission operations capabilities in support of U.S. defense and space readiness initiatives.
Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) has selected Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) to build the satellite bus for a small, maneuverable geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellite under the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM‑Global (PTS‑G) program. Viasat was awarded the Swarm 1 prime contract on May 22, 2026 to deliver one of the first mini‑GEO satellites for the PTS‑G constellation, covering manufacturing, integration and test, launch, and on‑orbit checkout.
Rocket Lab will provide a GEO configuration of its Lightning spacecraft platform to host Viasat’s dual‑band X/Ka‑band payload, using vertically integrated components such as TT&C radios, solar power, star trackers and reaction wheels. According to Viasat, the system is designed to deliver next‑generation, anti‑jam, resilient communications for U.S. and allied forces in contested environments. The award also includes five years of operations and sustainment services, including TT&C, satellite and network operations, and cybersecurity.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced that eight advanced 500kg satellite platforms it built for MDA Space, prime contractor for Globalstar (Nasdaq: GSAT), have successfully reached orbit under a $143 million deal covering 17 platforms. The first eight satellites in the replenishment constellation were launched on August 15 from Cape Canaveral at 9:12 p.m. ET. Rocket Lab has established contact with all eight satellites and confirmed they are performing nominally and generating power on orbit, with spacecraft commissioning now underway to support Globalstar’s direct-to-device and IoT services.
The platforms are customized versions of Rocket Lab’s Lightning satellite platform, built and tested in Long Beach and incorporating in-house components such as solar arrays, reaction wheels, avionics elements, TT&C radios, and software. Lightning is also in production for additional missions, including U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency constellations.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) entered into a new equity distribution agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities and Wells Fargo Securities, allowing it to offer and sell common stock of up to $1,944,369,826 under an at-the-market (“ATM”) equity program. This agreement replaces a prior May 20, 2026 equity distribution agreement and carries forward only the remaining unsold amount, with no increase in the aggregate offering capacity. The prior agreement has been terminated.
Rocket Lab currently intends to use net proceeds from any ATM sales to help fund cash payments for its proposed Iridium Communications acquisition and to reduce commitments under its senior secured debt bridge facility. The ATM is not conditioned on closing the Iridium deal; if that transaction does not occur or proceeds exceed its needs, Rocket Lab may allocate funds to future growth, potential acquisitions, and general corporate and working capital purposes. Sales may be made from time to time on Nasdaq or otherwise, at prevailing, related, or negotiated prices, including via forward sale agreements, under the company’s effective automatic shelf registration on Form S-3ASR.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) reported key milestones for its proposed acquisition of Iridium Communications. The U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period for the transaction expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on August 12, 2026, removing a major U.S. antitrust review hurdle.
Rocket Lab filed a Form S-4 registration statement with the SEC to register Rocket Lab securities that will be issued as equity consideration to Iridium shareholders at closing, though the registration is not yet effective. Rocket Lab and Iridium also submitted FCC applications on August 10, 2026, seeking consent to transfer control of Iridium’s licenses and authorizations to Rocket Lab.
On financing, Rocket Lab highlighted an existing $3.6 billion, 364-day senior secured bridge loan commitment and plans to replace it with a mix of permanent debt and equity. The companies intend to seek amendments to Iridium’s $1.775 billion term loan so it can remain in place post-acquisition, which would reduce Rocket Lab’s bridge commitments if lender consents are obtained. Rocket Lab also launched a new at-the-market equity program, carrying forward the unsold capacity of its May 2026 program, with proceeds intended to further reduce bridge loan commitments.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) has established Rocket Lab Germany GmbH in Munich, marking a strategic European expansion to support sovereign space capabilities. The new entity builds on Rocket Lab’s acquisition of laser communications specialist Mynaric AG, which will continue producing optical terminals while leveraging Rocket Lab’s manufacturing and supply chain expertise.
According to Rocket Lab, Rocket Lab Germany is intended to enable potential satellite, payload and component manufacturing in Germany and to provide European customers with access to launch services on Electron and the in-development Neutron vehicle, supporting commercial, defense and national security constellations.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) introduced GHOST (Global Hypersonic & Orbital Spaceport Technology), a containerized, globally deployable launch system that enables suborbital and orbital missions for its Electron and HASTE rockets from almost any location worldwide.
Packaged in standard shipping containers, GHOST includes rockets, launch infrastructure, ground support, and range control systems. The first GHOST location, Launch Complex 4 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, will feature two pads for high-frequency campaigns, complementing Rocket Lab’s existing pads in New Zealand and Virginia and bringing its total operated pads to six across two hemispheres. Initial operational use is planned with a suborbital launch from Alaska in 2027, targeting responsive and time-critical national security and sovereign launch needs.
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) has been selected by space infrastructure company Kepler Communications for a dedicated Neutron launch no earlier than 2028 from Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia. The mission will deploy multiple satellites to low Earth orbit to expand Kepler’s constellation with added optical connectivity, on-orbit compute, and hosted payload capacity for commercial and government missions.
This is Kepler’s first dedicated mission on a commercial launch vehicle after using rideshare launches for its initial 33 satellites, giving the company more control over schedule and orbital parameters. Rocket Lab said this contract adds to a consecutive streak of Neutron commercial deals, pushing its manifest toward full capacity through the end of the decade.