Rocket Lab

By Mark Carreau
Prefire joins more than two dozen current NASA Earth Science missions focused on studies of the planet’s oceans, ice, vegetation, atmosphere and landforms.
Space

By Mark Carreau
Liftoff of the Rocket Lab Electron rocket with the initial spacecraft from New Zealand is planned for 3:15 a.m. EDT, following the weather delay from May 22.
Space

By Mark Carreau
The first of the two Prefire satellites is planned for launch on May 22.
Space

By Michael Bruno
The first launch of Rocket Lab’s proposed medium-lift Neutron is slipping to no earlier than mid-2025 due to development of its Archimedes engine.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab and its partner, True Anomaly, will conduct rendezvous and proximity operations as part of the demonstration.
Space Symposium

By Irene Klotz
The recovery is a milestone in the company’s efforts to step up its launch cadence by reusing first-stage boosters.
Space Symposium

By Brian Everstine
Rocket Lab USA will launch a group of experimental payloads to very low earth orbit (VLEO) in April 2026.
Space Symposium

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon on April 2 revealed its long-awaited strategy for integrating commercial space capabilities into national defense operations.
Commercial Space

By Brian Everstine
The agency’s disruptive approach to space acquisition has produced many contracts in a tight timeline, though its biggest tests are yet to come.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
Astra Space and Terran Orbital are the latest public space startups to bow out.
Commercial Space

By Michael Bruno
Astra Space will go private by accepting a recently lowered buyout bid from its co-founders and top executives.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The flight demonstration is one of six with NASA backing.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Varda Space Industries’ reentry capsule has received permission from the FAA to leave orbit, pass through the atmosphere and land back on terra firma.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Garrett Reim
Rocket Lab has been awarded a $489 million contract to design, build and operate 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites for the SDA.
Space

By Irene Klotz
A record 223 orbital-class rockets lifted off last year, a 20% hike over 2022.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Rocket Lab has received a $489 million contract to design, build and operate 18 space vehicles on behalf of an undisclosed U.S. government customer.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble, Guy Norris
As the first U.S. hypersonic weapons enter service, defense officials are searching for new ideas for high-speed propulsion and to dramatically reduce prices.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab’s 42nd launch of a two-stage Electron booster lifted off from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 11:05 p.m. EST Dec. 14.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Michael Bruno
Launcher manufacturer Rocket Lab is taking over the historic Middle River, Maryland, factory that Lockheed Martin is exiting.
Space

By Jen DiMascio
Frank Calvelli, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, spoke at Aviation Week’s A&D Programs conference on Nov. 7.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
The type, a step down in size from cubesats, is popular for experiments and tech demos.
Commercial Space

Aviation Week Staff
South Africa is working to develop an indigenous launch capability within five years, with plans to develop a former military site on the Western Cape into a commercial spaceport.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Rocket Lab warned investors on Sept. 26 that it had to lower its financial expectations for the current third quarter ending Sept. 30.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab is investigating the failure of an Electron rocket during a mission to deliver a radar-imaging satellite into low Earth orbit for Capella Space.
Commercial Space