Rocket Lab News

Rocket Lab successfully completed its 92nd Electron mission on August 6, 2026. The company launched the 13th Electron rocket of the year from its site in Mahia, New Zealand. This flight deployed the latest satellite for the iQPS Earth-Imaging Constellation as the eighth mission supporting that program.

The Institute for Q-shu serves as the multi-launch customer for these satellites. Rocket Lab Corporation, which trades as RKLB on Nasdaq, issued the launch announcement via GlobeNewswire from the launch location. Details confirm the payload reached orbit successfully during this dedicated small satellite mission.

This ongoing series of launches for iQPS shows how dedicated small launch vehicles deliver consistent results for constellation operators. Earth-imaging systems need regular additions to maintain coverage and performance over time. Rocket Lab provides that service through its Electron vehicle and established launch processes.

Rocket Lab plans further Electron missions to deploy more satellites for the iQPS constellation over the next year. The launch cadence of 13 flights so far this year indicates capacity for additional activity beyond the current schedule. Such performance could lead to expanded contracts with the Institute for Q-shu for future imaging satellites.

The U.S. Space Force awarded contracts totaling $615 million to Rocket Lab, Systems & Technology Research, and a third company. Rocket Lab received $397 million to develop, launch, and operate multiple Flatellites for the SB-AMTI program. The satellites feature a flat design optimized for large constellations with space-based sensors and high-bandwidth links.

The firm-fixed-price agreements support persistent tracking from space where surveillance aircraft cannot operate safely. Rocket Lab will use its Neutron rocket for launches and manage operations from secure facilities. The awards include an option for additional Flatellites and follow a $4.16 billion contract to SpaceX for the initial constellation.

The contracts diversify capabilities and test unique innovations for detecting and tracking airborne targets such as fighter aircraft, bombers, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons. One contractor managing development, launch, and operations reduces handoffs in the mission chain. This approach supports broader coverage without exposing aircraft crews to long-range threats.

Rocket Lab will deliver data and track information to the Space Force as the Flatellites enter operation. The Space Force will evaluate the different approaches from multiple vendors to build out the architecture. Additional satellites remain possible through the contract option as the program expands.

Rocket Lab stated on Monday that it had received a two hundred sixty six million dollar contract from the Space Force for suborbital launch services. The award constitutes the largest launch contract the company has ever obtained. It falls under the Space Systems Command Rocket Systems Launch Program and covers multiple missions from a new location.

The contract includes options for six additional launches on top of the minimum twelve. Completion of all work is required by December thirty first twenty twenty eight. One hundred twelve million dollars in fiscal year twenty twenty five research development test and evaluation funds were obligated at the time of award after three offers were received.

Most launches will occur at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska near the Gulf of Alaska. Rocket Lab maintains other launch sites in New Zealand and at Wallops Island in Virginia. The new Alaska operations will enable the Space Force to perform repeated suborbital flights from this state owned facility through the contract period.

The initial launch under this agreement is expected no earlier than the end of twenty twenty six. Rocket Lab plans to set up its presence at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska which is operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation. Execution of the twelve launches plus any options will follow as the program advances.

Rocket Lab announced its largest launch contract to date with SSC for suborbital missions. The $266 million agreement covers 12 launches and includes an option for six additional flights. To support these missions Rocket Lab will establish its fourth launch site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak with first launches expected by the end of this year.

This follows the $190 million DoD contract that Rocket Lab won in March for 20 hypersonic test flights using the HASTE vehicle. The new site in Alaska expands the pool of potential DoD test missions. Missile defense testing has increased due to depleted reserves from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

Missile defense testing requires affordable operations at high cadence. Rocket Lab states that its ability to perform missions reliably and repeatably on urgent timelines distinguishes it from other providers in suborbital launch. The shared infrastructure between Electron and HASTE supports a broader range of possibilities once operating in Alaska.

The operations involved to set up the Kodiak launch site can be easily replicated in other geographies. This includes allied nations that seek sovereign launch capability. Rocket Lab will continue to serve key missions through this expanded presence for hypersonic testing.

Rocket Lab Corporation secured a multi-launch deal with iQPS for three dedicated missions. The announcement took place on July 30, 2026, and originated from Long Beach, California. This agreement represents a new contract for dedicated launches using the Electron vehicle to support constellation deployment.

It is the third multi-launch booking on Electron by iQPS announced in less than a year. Rocket Lab Corporation issued the information via a Globe Newswire release on that date. The company focuses on launch services and space systems as part of its core operations under the Nasdaq RKLB listing.

The contract enables iQPS to advance its constellation through repeated use of dedicated Electron missions. Multiple bookings in a short period point to reliable performance and scheduling by the launch provider. This setup allows the customer to plan payload deployments with greater certainty over time.

Rocket Lab will proceed with preparations for the three missions outlined in the deal. The pattern of bookings suggests ongoing demand from iQPS for additional launches in the future. Execution of these missions will contribute to the overall growth in the company's launch manifest.

Rocket Lab won a contract from Japan's iQPS for three launches of its Electron rocket. The July 30 announcement specifies missions that place radar imaging satellites into 575 kilometer low Earth orbits. The flights start in late 2027 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

The new deal marks the third multi-launch agreement between the companies in the past year. iQPS signed contracts for three launches each in April and in October. Rocket Lab now holds contracts for a total of 18 Electron launches for iQPS and seven of those missions have taken place with the latest in December.

The launches help iQPS build its synthetic aperture radar imaging constellation. The company seeks 24 satellites by May 2028 and plans growth to 36 satellites by 2030. Consistent launch availability from Rocket Lab lowers the chance of delays in reaching these deployment targets.

Rocket Lab aborted a scheduled iQPS launch on June 30 when the first stage engines ignited but did not lift off. The company has not announced a new date for that mission. iQPS stated that its next launch will occur no earlier than August.

Rocket Lab signed a $266 million contract with the U.S. Space Force to fly up to 18 missile-defense missions, most of them from Alaska. The company announced the deal on July 27. Rocket Lab already launches from New Zealand and Virginia.

The contract covers 12 suborbital launches, with up to six more possible. Missions will primarily take place at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Alaska’s Kodiak Island. The site has hosted nearly three dozen missions since 1998, mostly suborbital flights for the U.S. military. It recently supported orbital launches by Astra and ABL Space Systems, now known as Long Wall.

The missions will almost certainly use HASTE, a suborbital variant of the Electron small-satellite launcher. HASTE debuted in June 2023 and has flown nine missions. Electron first launched in May 2017 and has flown 82 times. All HASTE launches to date have occurred from Wallops Island, Virginia.

CEO Peter Beck said the contract reflects Space Force confidence in Rocket Lab’s speed, responsiveness, and scale. The release provided few details about the launches. The missions may be part of the Golden Dome missile-defense initiative, but that is not confirmed.

Rocket Lab Corporation announced the award of a significant contract from the U.S. Space Force on July 27, 2026. The company made the announcement from its location in Long Beach, California through a Globe Newswire release. This agreement involves multiple suborbital launches tied to missile defense requirements.

The contract is valued at $266 million and stands as the largest launch contract to date for the company. It is structured as a multi-launch agreement specifically with the U.S. Space Force. Rocket Lab Corporation operates under the Nasdaq ticker RKLB and provides launch services along with space systems.

The contract award highlights the operational role Rocket Lab plays in supporting defense missions through its launch capabilities. Suborbital launches enable testing and deployment scenarios critical for missile defense systems. Securing such a large agreement from the U.S. Space Force shows the market demand for reliable launch providers in national security applications.

Execution of the launches under the new contract will provide data on performance and reliability for future missions. The U.S. Space Force could pursue additional contracts based on successful outcomes from this initial multi-launch deal. Rocket Lab will continue its focus on expanding launch services following this record award.

Rocket Lab Corporation announced it will release its financial results for the second quarter of 2026 after U.S. markets close on Monday, August 10, 2026. The company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, or 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on the same day.

A live webcast and replay of the call will be available on Rocket Lab’s Investor Relations website. Patrick Vorenkamp serves as the investor relations contact, and Murielle Baker is the media contact.

Rocket Lab provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components for commercial, government, and national security markets. Its Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket. The HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations. The Neutron launch vehicle, currently in development, is designed for medium launch supporting constellation deployment, national security, and exploration missions.

Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense, and national security efforts, including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. The company is publicly listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker RKLB.

Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, and PLD Space announced key testing milestones for their new orbital rockets. The vehicles target debut flights later in 2026. These updates highlight ongoing qualification efforts across structural, propulsion, and ground infrastructure domains as the programs advance toward launch.

Relativity completed initial proof test cases for a reusable first stage qualification article in Long Beach. The second stage arrived at NASA Stennis ahead of hotfire testing with a flame diverter now installed. All thirteen Aeon R engines for the first flight passed acceptance testing while work began on the Aeon V engine.

Pressurized tank testing subjects the propellant tanks to operational pressures and mechanical loads to simulate flight environments. This campaign validates long-term structural durability for a booster designed for multiple reuses. Launch site construction at Cape Canaveral LC-16 continues with additions of propellant tanks and other installations.

These activities move the Terran R program closer to integrated vehicle testing and eventual launch. The three companies each advance similar efforts for their medium-lift vehicles. Further hotfire campaigns and system checkouts remain the immediate priorities before 2026 flights.

Rocket Lab completed a full-duration qualification test of its Archimedes engine for the next-generation Neutron launch vehicle. The test burn took place at the company's Archimedes Test Complex at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The company announced the success in a July 13 social media post.

The full-duration test lasted just under 5.5 minutes and aimed to simulate flight-like requirements. Neutron's first stage is equipped with eight Archimedes engines, providing nearly 1.5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Each engine's output is comparable to a Merlin 1D engine on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

Neutron is designed for partial reusability, with its first stage capable of landing back at its launch site or on droneship vehicles at sea. The vehicle's second stage is powered by a single vacuum-optimized Archimedes engine, called AVac. That engine features a bell that is about 8 feet taller than the first-stage engines and produces 1.2 times the thrust in a vacuum.

For the recent test, Rocket Lab installed a shorter sea-level variant skirt on the AVac to compensate for its grounded altitude. The company said stub skirts anchor engineers' analysis for how the engine will perform with the full nozzle. The test paves the way for integration with Neutron in the coming months, with a possible debut later this year.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket has had a record stretch through the first half of 2026. The company sees gains with this vehicle in its launch activities. Neutron rocket development has faced delays during the same period. The article title captures these developments for the space company according to the source.

The record stretch for Electron stands out as a key achievement in the first half of 2026. Delays on Neutron represent a challenge noted in the same timeframe. Rocket Lab manages both the Electron and the Neutron programs. The report provides these specific details on vehicle performance and timelines.

The gains and delays matter because they affect Rocket Lab's overall launch capabilities in the near term. Electron progress supports ongoing missions while Neutron setbacks may impact future medium lift options. Concrete facts from the article show the mixed results for the two rockets. This has implications for the company's schedule and customers.

Rocket Lab continues work on resolving the Neutron delays in the months ahead. Electron is expected to build on its record stretch with additional flights. The source article on NASASpaceFlight.com may be followed by further updates on these programs. Next milestones will clarify the status of both vehicles.

Rocket Lab delivered mission success for the U.S. Space Force’s VICTUS HAZE mission. The company designed, built, and tested the Pioneer spacecraft before launching it on Electron. It then performed complex rendezvous and proximity operations to inspect a target satellite on short notice.

The launch occurred on June 19, 2026, just 16 hours and 42 minutes after the notice to launch. Commissioning finished in 38 hours, more than 30 hours ahead of the 72-hour deadline. The RPO operations completed in less than 59 hours, 25 hours ahead of the 84-hour requirement.

Handling spacecraft production, launch services, and mission operations under one prime contractor reduces the number of handoffs required during fast-response scenarios. This integrated structure supports quicker timelines for space domain awareness tasks that demand immediate satellite tracking and inspection. Rocket Lab became the first single prime contractor to provide an all-in-one mission for the TacRS program.

Future TacRS missions can draw on the same end-to-end capability Rocket Lab demonstrated. The Pioneer spacecraft design and the operational experience from this mission allow the company to meet new requirements for satellite inspection on compressed schedules. The Space Force gains a reliable model for rapid threat-response operations in orbit.

Iridium Communications completed its takeover of Aireon by purchasing the remaining 61 percent stake. The McLean Virginia based operator bought out air navigation service providers in Canada England Denmark Ireland and Italy. This move brings the aircraft tracking service fully in house ahead of the planned sale to Rocket Lab.

The transaction totaled 367 million dollars and closed on July 6. Iridium will sell its entire business to Rocket Lab for 8 billion dollars subject to approvals with a target close in mid 2027. Aireon has provided aviation safety services since 2019 through Iridium satellites and ADS B signals from aircraft.

Integration gives Rocket Lab access to Aireon capabilities that complement Iridium connectivity for aviation customers. The combined assets support ongoing work on space based VHF systems that extend voice and data links into oceanic regions. Rocket Lab intends to apply its methods to optimize and expand these services in the coming years.

Rocket Lab must secure regulatory clearances and shareholder approval before acquiring Iridium. Aireon will operate as a subsidiary under current leadership while advancing surveillance and navigation offerings. The focus remains on scaling aviation applications tied to the Iridium constellation.

True Anomaly completed the first VICTUS HAZE mission successfully. Its Jackal spacecraft, called Panther during the exercise, found and approached Rocket Lab's Puma spacecraft in orbit. Panther imaged the target and delivered the information and photos to SSC as required. The mission simulated conditions for tracking an adversarial spacecraft.

Rocket Lab launched the Puma spacecraft less than 17 hours after receiving notice from SSC. True Anomaly located Puma within hours of the June 19 launch. The Jackal spacecraft then circled the non-cooperative target and provided imagery within 61 hours of the order, beating the 72-hour deadline.

This performance highlights the ability to conduct rapid orbital operations with minimal coordination between separate teams. The companies operated without direct communication outside established trusted paths. The approach creates a model for responsive space missions where speed and independence matter in contested environments.

SSC will task the two companies with many more missions in the coming weeks and months. Upcoming exercises will add complexity and speed following a crawl, walk, run method. The unclassified nature of the program enables wider distribution of results to policymakers and operations personnel.

Rocket Lab aborted the launch of its "The Grain Goddess Provides" mission at the last second on June 30. The Electron rocket was scheduled to lift off from the company's New Zealand site at 9 p.m. EDT. The cause of the abort is currently unclear.

The mission was set to carry the QPS-SAR-13 satellite for Japan-based iQPS. The satellite, nicknamed Mikura-I, is part of a planned 36-satellite constellation for high-resolution synthetic aperture radar Earth observation. This launch was the eighth of 15 total missions for iQPS.

"The Grain Goddess Provides" would have been Rocket Lab's 92nd mission overall and its 13th of 2026. The Electron rocket was to deploy the satellite into a circular orbit 575 kilometers above Earth about 50 minutes after liftoff. The launch came one day after Rocket Lab announced its acquisition of Iridium for $8 billion.

Rocket Lab has not announced when it will attempt the launch again. The company stated on X that combining with Iridium's network would make it a fully integrated space power.

Rocket Lab announced an $8B cash-and-stock deal to acquire Iridium Communications. The purchase brings Rocket Lab into the satcom market through ownership of Iridium's L-band spectrum rights. The transaction is partially financed by a $3.6B bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo and should close in mid-2027.

Iridium operates a constellation of 66 satellites in higher LEO along with 14 spares. The system cost $3B to complete in 2019 and currently serves over 2.5 million customers. Rocket Lab's FY25 revenue stood at $602M compared to Iridium's roughly $872M.

Rocket Lab gains a built-in moat through Iridium's global L-band spectrum rights that support high-value services like emergency communications. Vertical integration from launch to operations will reduce replacement costs for the constellation that may last until 2040. The combined entity will more than double revenue and add substantial free cash flow for technology expansion.

Rocket Lab will integrate Iridium's planned D2D and alternative PNT services into its operations after the 2027 close. The current constellation may remain operational until 2040 according to CEO Peter Beck. Ownership allows the company to test new technologies directly with its launch vehicles and spacecraft expertise.

Rocket Lab has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Iridium Communications Inc. The transaction merges Rocket Lab leading launch capabilities and satellite manufacturing expertise with Iridium global satellite communications network, spectrum holdings, and partner ecosystem. This combination forms a vertically integrated space company that designs, builds, launches, and operates its own constellations.

The purchase involves all outstanding shares of Iridium common stock at $54 per share in a cash and stock transaction. This structure represents an enterprise value of approximately $8.0 billion for Iridium. Rocket Lab and Iridium announced the agreement on June 29, 2026, and Iridium currently supports more than 2.55 million active subscribers.

The acquisition adds material revenue scale and stands significantly accretive to Rocket Lab cash flow generation and profitability metrics. It provides Rocket Lab with an immediate foothold in satellite Internet of Things, direct-to-device services, and positioning navigation and timing applications. These services address needs in government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial markets through secure and resilient L-band spectrum.

Rocket Lab will build upon the Iridium network instead of simply continuing existing operations. The company plans to scale into untapped markets and pioneer new space-based services for global customers. Iridium L-band spectrum and low Earth orbit satellite network supply a secure foundation for reliable communications and PNT services across multiple sectors.

Rocket Lab announced on June 29 that it reached an agreement to acquire Iridium for cash and stock. Chief executive Peter Beck stated in an interview that the purchase represents the logical next step toward tapping the space services market. The company selected this acquisition route to reach firm recurring revenue without spending a decade building and launching its own satellites.

The deal values the target at $8 billion based on $54 per share. Regulatory approvals must clear before the expected closing in mid-2027. Iridium brings positive cash flow, a global L-band spectrum allocation, and an established constellation that supplies communications and navigation offerings to customers.

Combining satellite manufacturing, launch vehicles, and services under one roof enables Rocket Lab to target applications that were previously inaccessible. The transaction extends a relationship dating back years when Iridium's then-chief operating officer Scott Smith joined Rocket Lab's board. Current services that support mariners, pilots, and defense forces will continue without interruption.

The healthy status of the Iridium NEXT constellation reduces any immediate need for replacement and allows time for scaling. Rocket Lab plans to optimize and grow the operations while leaving its separate satellite manufacturing activities unchanged. Additional capabilities can be layered onto the existing network over time.

Rocket Lab launched the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand on June 26, 2026. An Electron rocket lifted off from Launch Complex-1 at 1:43 p.m. EDT, carrying Japanese company Synspective's 10th synthetic aperture radar satellite.

The mission sent up Synspective's 10th Strix satellite, which expands the company's Earth-observing constellation. The satellite will collect imaging data for use in city planning, monitoring infrastructure, and responding to natural disasters. The Strix satellites are named after a genus of owls.

The launch was Rocket Lab's 12th overall in 2026 and the ninth for Electron this year. Synspective has booked Electron to launch the entirety of its Strix constellation, with 17 more launches on the rocket's manifest expected before 2030. Each Strix satellite weighs about 220 pounds and has an on-orbit lifespan of about five years.

Payload separation occurred on schedule about one hour after liftoff. Electron delivered the Strix satellite to a low Earth orbit altitude of 343 miles at an inclination of 42 degrees. The satellites' SAR antennas allow them to collect data in all lighting conditions and through cloud cover.

Rocket Lab launched the Victus Haze Puma spacecraft. The launch date was June 19. An Electron rocket carried the payload. The launch site is in Mahia, New Zealand. The spacecraft reached sun synchronous orbit.

The U.S. Space Force awarded Rocket Lab a $32 million contract. The award year was 2024. The contract funded spacecraft development. Victus Haze Puma is one of two spacecraft. The mission is called Victus Haze.

The spacecraft will complete on orbit checkout. Commissioning comes next. Rendezvous and proximity operations begin after that. The operations are called RPO. The Rocket Lab spacecraft will interact with another vehicle. True Anomaly operates that vehicle.

Space Systems Command issued a statement on June 22. The statement addressed the operations. Teams will conduct various scenarios. The scenarios demonstrate space domain awareness. Characterization capabilities are also shown. Engagements are dynamic between the vehicles.

Victus Haze is the fourth TacRS demonstration. TacRS means Tactically Responsive Space. The program seeks to prove commercial capabilities. Providers can launch on military timelines. Sophisticated missions are performed once in orbit.

The 2023 Victus Nox demonstration came before. Firefly Aerospace was the launch provider. The satellite launched within 27 hours of the order. Victus Nox focused on rapid launch. Victus Haze adds more capabilities. The new focus includes maneuvering. Inspection of objects is included. Characterization of objects is included.

The Rocket Lab spacecraft will work with Jackal 004. Jackal 004 is already in orbit. True Anomaly owns Jackal 004. Jackal launched on May 3. A SpaceX Falcon 9 performed the launch. The mission was a rideshare. South Korea's CAS500 2 satellite was also aboard.

Space Force officials argue for certain needs. Future conflicts may require rapid actions. Damaged satellites need replacement. New sensors may need deployment. Spacecraft may investigate suspicious activity. Timelines are measured in days. Current timelines are months or years.

The architecture selected two providers. Rocket Lab provides one spacecraft. True Anomaly provides the other. Both spacecraft maneuver. They conduct proximity operations. The Rocket Lab vehicle uses an existing satellite. It does not wait for a dedicated launch.

Rocket Lab completed a launch for Synspective on June 27, 2026. The Electron rocket took off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Liftoff occurred at 5:43 a.m. NZST. The mission name is Ten Owl Of Ten. The satellite reached a 552 km low Earth orbit. This launch was the tenth for Synspective. The mission success rate is 100 percent. Ten StriX satellites are now operational. All were launched by Electron. The satellites use synthetic aperture radar for Earth imagery. Rocket Lab has now completed 91 missions total. This launch was the 12th in 2026. Electron is the most frequently launched small-lift rocket. A custom fairing was designed for the satellite. The fairing matches the specific dimensions of the StriX satellite. This customization supports the perfect success record. Synspective has 17 more launches booked. These missions will complete the constellation by the end of the decade. The next launch is set for early Q3 2026. Rocket Lab provides launch services and space systems. The company serves commercial, government, and national security markets. Electron is the most launched small rocket. HASTE offers hypersonic test capability. Neutron will provide medium lift capability. Spacecraft and components have supported over 1,700 missions. These missions include GPS, constellations, and exploration to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is publicly listed on Nasdaq under the symbol RKLB. The press release was issued on June 26, 2026. Launch images are available on Flickr. The webcast is on YouTube. The media contact is [email protected]. The partnership demonstrates repeat commercial business. Dedicated missions reduce schedule risk for the customer. Electron reliability supports constellation growth. Rocket Lab maintains launch cadence through 2026.

Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on June 26. The Electron rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:43 p.m. Eastern on a mission called 10 Owl of 10. The StriX payload separated from the rocket kick stage 56 minutes later into a 552-kilometer orbit inclined at 42 degrees.

The launch was the 10th Electron mission to carry a Synspective satellite. Synspective has relied exclusively on Electron to deploy its satellites and holds contracts for 17 more Electron launches. The company also has agreements to launch seven spacecraft on future SpaceX rideshare missions.

The launch date shifted from as early as June 17 after Rocket Lab adjusted the schedule on June 16 to conduct additional checkouts. Instead the company performed a responsive launch mission for the U.S. Space Force Victus Haze program on June 19 from the same site. This sequence shows how launch providers manage competing priorities between commercial and government customers.

The June 26 flight was the 12th Electron mission of 2026 including three flights of the HASTE suborbital variant. The most recent HASTE launch took place June 11 from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia under the code name Curveball. Rocket Lab has 17 further Synspective missions under contract for the coming years.

NASA selected Rocket Lab to provide three Electron launches for the PolSIR and TSIS-2 missions. The launches run from early 2027 through June 2027. All three missions lift off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

Rocket Lab conducts two back-to-back Electron launches for the PolSIR mission. Each launch deploys one CubeSat. The two CubeSats are identical. They enter separate 52-degree inclination orbits that are non-sun synchronous. These orbits allow comparisons of ice clouds across daily, seasonal, and annual cycles.

The PolSIR satellites study ice clouds at high altitudes in the tropics and sub-tropics. They examine how the clouds form. They track how the clouds change throughout the day. They measure the ice content. Scientists feed the data into Earth system models. The models improve global weather predictions.

Rocket Lab conducts one Electron launch for the TSIS-2 mission. The launch occurs in early 2027. The satellite measures the Sun’s brightness at the top of Earth’s atmosphere. It records the distribution of that energy across ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. The measurements support predictions of ozone layer recovery. They also aid air quality forecasts.

Electron delivers satellites within meters of the target orbit. Industry standard accuracy reaches kilometer-level precision. NASA requires the higher accuracy for the PolSIR orbits. Rocket Lab completed more than 90 launches before this selection. The company meets tight turnaround schedules. NASA signed the TSIS-2 contract and set launch just seven months later.

Electron supplies reliable and responsive launch service for small satellites. The three missions demonstrate this capability for time-sensitive NASA science requirements.