Rocket Lab's heavier lift platform, Neutron, is under development so it's fitting that the Neutron has been picked for a US Air Force mission that's also under development.
The mission, slated for no earlier than 2026, will fall under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) “rocket cargo” program, which explores how commercial launch vehicles might one day deliver materiel to any point on Earth within hours—a vision akin to airlift logistics via spaceflight.
Rocket Lab announced the award May 8. The contract’s value was not disclosed.
Rocket Lab's founder and CEO, Peter Beck, noted the contract award during a first quarter earnings call, and described it this way:
“That program is really at the very beginning of its development within the U.S. government,” Beck said. “So I think we’re very much in the experimental phase. And it’ll be interesting to see if that turns into a full requirement for an operational capability.”
This selection by the US Air Force follows what Beck called "the big news in the first quarter" - that Rocket Lab had been picked to compete for national security launch contracts.
The Space Systems Command announced on March 27 that Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will be eligible to compete against established players Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program. This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract structure allows the selected companies to bid on launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions expected to be awarded – totaling an estimated $5.6 billion in task orders.
That's quite a group of companies to be included with - and they've earned their place. It was under 11 months ago that their Electron light-lift rocket became the first commercially developed rocket to reach 50 launches. Plus, almost exactly two years ago, they announced their the Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program that has already completed several missions for the US Space Force.
Illustration of Rocket Lab's Neutron cargo delivery payload. Image credit: Rocket Lab
Neutron, designed to lift up to 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit, remains on schedule for its inaugural launch in 2025, Beck said. The company reports that both launch pad construction at Wallops Island, Virginia, and rocket development continue to progress as planned.
Hopefully the contract is 'pending upon successful testing and launch of vehicles' before the contract is actually finalized.
ReplyDeleteSo far, lots of pretty visuals and some test parts, no completed vehicle. And we all know how space-related dates tend to slip into months, quarters, years, nebulous territory involving alternate dimensions and time shifts and enough fakery that makes even poor sci-fi look harder than Einstein's notebooks.
Still waiting on Sierra's Dreamchaser. Watching the project dates on that one slip farther and farther away. Same with the next ULA Vulcan launch, which is also what Dreamchaser requires to launch because they won't bend their stiff neck and go to SpaceX. Same with New Glenn. And production levels of the BE4 engines. And...
Why, oh why is Ssierra Space "Dooing teh Stoopid" when it comes to the launcher for Dreamchaser??
DeleteCan't fix Stoopid, but it CAN go out of business...
OT again...
ReplyDeleteI thought this was pretty amusing and that some of your readers might get a chuckle:
http://www.transterrestrial.com/2025/05/08/an-amusing-scam/
As always, feel free to delete this if inappropriate...
I hope for success from Rocket Lab but they seem to be off course.
ReplyDeleteNow that Musk has been shown the door from Washington, maybe he will spend some time at SpaceX.
"Now that Musk has been shown the door from Washington"...
DeleteWhat planet are you from?