NASA has Chosen Rocket Lab to Supply Services for Neutron Launches

Through Rocket Lab’s current VADR (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contract, NASA has chosen Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a world leader in launch services and space systems, to provide Neutron launch services to the agency. Rocket Lab’s partially reusable medium-lift, two-stage launcher, Neutron, currently uses nine Archimedes engines that were 3D printed.

Rocket Lab can now expand its access to space by delivering many missions in various orbits, such as CubeSats, Class D missions, and other payloads, thanks to the new Neutron rocket. Rocket Lab has demonstrated time-sensitive back-to-back launches within two weeks for the VADR PREFIRE missions and completed a similar quick turnaround of two launches in May 2023 for the VADR TROPICS missions. Rocket Lab already has its small orbital launch vehicle Electron on-ramped for NASA’s VADR missions.

Neutron is intended to offer a different, dependable launch service that can deliver 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit to both government and commercial clients. Neutron is designed to deliver science and exploration payloads, constellations, and national security missions. Neutron is essential to Rocket Lab’s goal as an end-to-end space corporation that can build, launch, and run its own constellations and provide services from space in the future, in addition to serving clients.

Sir Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, explained:  “Neutron brings choice and value to the launch industry and is the ideal rocket to support NASA’s goals with VADR to provide new opportunities for science and technology payloads through commercial best practice. Rocket Lab has been a long trusted and reliable launch partner for NASA missions with Electron, and we’re proud to have been selected to expand on this with Neutron.”

Future government and commercial missions will require medium-lift launches, which Neutron is well-positioned to take advantage of.

The rocket’s launch location in Wallops Island, Virginia, is still making significant development, and it should be finished in the upcoming months. At Rocket Lab’s several production and test facilities around the United States, production, infrastructure scaling, and testing of both Archimedes engines and full-scale components are all proceeding at a rapid rate. Beginning in the middle of 2025, Neutron will make its first launch from Virginia’s Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3.