Rocket Lab wins $34m US Space Force contract

Rocket Lab wins $34m US Space Force contract
Rocket Lab will expand beyond small launch in the coming years. (Image: Rocket Lab)
Henry Burrell
Rocket Lab has won a US$24.35 million (NZ$34m) contract to develop the upper stage of its Neutron launch vehicle from the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC).Neutron is Rocket Lab’s latest announced rocket due to first launch in 2024. It will be the newly-listed company’s first vehicle able to carry crew and is designed to take the company beyond the small launch business currently carried by its Electron vehicle.“This award is a vote of confidence in Neutron and our ability to deliver low-cost, responsive,...