Capital · Government lending
Pentagon’s conditional $150 million loan commitment aims to increase Rocket Lab’s Neutron flight rate
The proposed Pentagon financing would support production, recovery vessels and turnaround infrastructure to help raise Neutron’s flight rate beyond its first launch.
The Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) announced a $150 million conditional loan commitment with Rocket Lab USA, the principal operating subsidiary of Rocket Lab Corporation. The proposed financing would support efforts to increase the reusable Neutron rocket’s flight rate beyond first launch.1
OSC announced a $150 million conditional loan commitment with Rocket Lab USA
The loan would support efforts to increase the flight rate of the reusable Neutron rocket beyond first launch
The proposed loan would support faster vehicle delivery and processing and a larger fleet of maritime vessels with equipment for Neutron recovery and transport
It would also enable manufacturing upgrades for composite structures and engines
support infrastructure that would reduce turnaround time between launches once the reusable rocket makes its operational debut
Rocket Lab must complete additional steps before financial close
Department of War, Office of Strategic Capital
Sources
OSC said the loan would support faster vehicle delivery and processing, along with an expanded fleet of maritime vessels with additional equipment for Neutron recovery and transport. It would also enable manufacturing upgrades to increase production of composite structures and engines, and support infrastructure to reduce turnaround between launches once Neutron makes its operational debut.1
Neutron is designed to deliver payloads of approximately 13,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. OSC said the rocket would provide the U.S. government with a new medium-lift launch platform.1
The commitment remains conditional: Rocket Lab must satisfy financial, legal, technical, investment, due diligence and other requirements before financial close.1
OSC senior vice president for investments Peter F. Anderson said the commitment would enable Rocket Lab to create more launch opportunities for commercial and government customers.1
Sources (1)
- Department of War: Office of Strategic Capital signs $150 million conditional loan commitment with Rocket Lab www.war.gov