Jun 202629
Rocket Lab agrees to buy Iridium
Operates the world's only truly global mobile satellite network, delivering voice, data, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
$8 billionPending
Company
Rocket Lab Corp
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, satellite components and on-orbit management. ↗
| Headquarters | Long Beach, CA ↗ |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 ↗ |
| Leadership | Sir Peter Beck, President, CEO and Chairman ↗ |
| Employees | 2,600+ ↗ |
| Revenue | $602 million (fiscal 2025) ↗ |
| Department of War obligations | $21 million in prime contracts since fiscal 2022 ↗ |
| Ownership | Public ↗ |
| Shares | RKLB ↗ |
| Website | rocketlabcorp.com ↗ |
Products
- Electron is Rocket Lab's small orbital launch vehicle, carrying spacecraft of up to 300 kg to low Earth orbit. ↗
- Neutron is Rocket Lab's medium-lift reusable launch vehicle in development, designed for approximately 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit in its reusable configuration. ↗
- HASTE is a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from Electron, used for hypersonic flight testing. ↗
- Photon is Rocket Lab's spacecraft platform, which can serve as Electron's kick stage and then operate as a spacecraft on orbit. ↗
- Rutherford is the 5,600-lbf liquid oxygen and kerosene engine that powers Electron, driven by electric turbo-pumps. ↗
- Rocket Lab makes space solar cells, coverglass interconnected cells and solar arrays for missions from low Earth orbit to interplanetary. ↗
- Rocket Lab sells spacecraft components including composite structures, reaction wheels, star trackers, radios and separation systems. ↗
- Rocket Lab targets Q4 2026 for the first launch of Neutron. ↗
Customers
- The Department of War and NASA are customers for Rocket Lab spacecraft. ↗
- Rocket Lab has launched missions for the NRO, including in 2020. ↗
- Rocket Lab launched a mission for the United States Space Force in 2021. ↗
- Rocket Lab's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, Blue and Gold, reached orbit in November 2025 for NASA. ↗
Deals since 2020
May 202606
Rocket Lab buys Motiv Space Systems
Seller: Equity holders of Motiv
Maker of satellite components like solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) and other precision mechanisms, with Mars-proven robotics capability
UndisclosedClosed May 26, 2026
Sep 202525
Rocket Lab buys Mynaric
Seller: OC III LVS LIII LP and CO Finance II LVS I
Provider of laser optical communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications, headquartered in Munich, Germany
Up to $155 millionClosed Apr 14, 2026
May 202527
Rocket Lab buys Geost
Seller: LightRidge Solutions Holdings LP
Developer of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems for national security space missions
Up to $275 millionClosed Aug 12, 2025
May 202323
Rocket Lab USA buys Virgin Orbit Long Beach assets
Seller: Virgin Orbit Holdings
A real property lease for a Long Beach, California property and certain production assets, machinery and equipment
$16 millionClosed Jun 2, 2023
Dec 202113
Rocket Lab USA buys SolAero
One of only two companies producing high-efficiency, space-grade solar cells in the United States
$80 millionClosed Jan 18, 2022
Nov 202115
Rocket Lab USA buys Planetary Systems
Maker of separation systems and spacecraft dispensers for the space industry
UndisclosedClosed Nov 30, 2021
Oct 202112
Rocket Lab USA buys Advanced Solutions
Seller: Shareholders of ASI
Engineering company that develops flight software, simulation systems and guidance, navigation and control systems
UndisclosedClosed Oct 12, 2021
Mar 202101
Rocket Lab goes public through Vector Acquisition
End-to-end space company delivering launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft, and on-orbit management solutions
$4 billionClosed Aug 25, 2021
Mar 202006
Rocket Lab USA buys Sinclair Interplanetary
Provider of high-quality, flight-proven spacecraft hardware, headquartered in Toronto, Canada
UndisclosedClosed Apr 28, 2020
Segments
- Rocket Lab reports two segments: launch services and space systems. ↗
Our coverage
- Contracts · SpaceViasat wins contract for Space Data Network’s mission operations hubThe award includes a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center, under a contract with a $450 million ceiling.
- M&A · Private equityATL Partners buys Precise Metal Products to start an aerospace and defense roll-upStaple Street Capital is the seller. The Phoenix company's long-term agreements support narrow-body and wide-body planes and defense programs, but the announcement gives no price or program names.
- M&A · RF and electronic warfareOceanSound-backed antenna maker ARA announces merger with amplifier maker Empower RFEmpower RF supplies the power half of the "power and networking content" new chief executive Bill Gattle said ARA would add. The announcement gave no price, terms or closing status.