u/FlakyDingo463 — reddlx

▲ 414 r/RKLB+1 crossposts

Rocket Lab Wins $12m Award To Demonstrate Space Data Network - Award Enables Them To Compete For Mega-Constellation

Rocket Lab is one of 5 companies each awarded $12m through 2 OTA's for a Space Data Network demonstration by the USSF which will be the groundwork for a future mega-constellation. Current work is to be completed within 6 to 9 months, with further task orders to follow.

Rocket Lab's award makes them eligible to compete for future task orders under the multi-vendor EST program, allowing them to participate in a mega-constellation with current congressional funding exceeding $7bn.

Source: SpaceFortune12 (X)

u/FlakyDingo463 — 8 days ago

▲ 269 r/RKLB+1 crossposts

NEXT LAUNCH

A NAVAREA has been filed for Rocket Lab's next Electron launch which will be between 05 August to 18 August.

I've compared this NAVAREA to the one previously filed for The Grain Goddess Provides and it all matches aside from the launch times, so this is likely a re-attempt for that mission which was aborted on ignition almost a month ago.

At least this will settle the people who have said something is wrong with Electron because there's been no launches or news since the abort.

u/FlakyDingo463 — 23 days ago

▲ 51 r/RKLB

Could Rocket Lab Build A New Pad In Australia? (Most likely)

Yesterday the Australian Space Agency published a 'Statement on Space', outlining how they intend to grow the Australian space sector. Focus area 2 looks at Launch capabilities. To Rocket Lab's potential benefit, they highlight the key opportunities to be:

Launch and return services - supporting domestic and international missions through secure and responsible launch, re-entry and recovery pathways that leverage Australia’s geography
Sub-orbital flight applications - applying range, safety and operational capability to novel activities including hypersonics, space planes and overland flight testing.

I would typically have ignored a statement like this. Dozens of countries are looking to expand their space sector. But on the same day as the Statement on Space, Rocket Lab posted 2 job opportunities for a Launch & Test Operations Manager - both based in Australia.

A key paragraph from the job listing is this: "Rocket Lab is seeking an exceptional Manager for Test and Launch Operations, someone who thrives when the countdown hits zero and the world is watching. You'll lead front-line engineering teams executing critical test and launch operations for Electron and Neutron, playing a pivotal role in maintaining Rocket Lab's industry-leading launch cadence."

While we were all looking at Alaska, it looks as if Rocket Lab was also eyeing up a new pad in Australia.

Linkedin post: https://au.linkedin.com/jobs/view/manager-test-launch-operations-at-rocket-lab-4440187756?trk=public_jobs_topcard-title
Statement on Space: https://www.space.gov.au/sites/default/files/media-documents/2026-07/Statement-on-Space.pdf

https://preview.redd.it/nkk7k36w5seh1.png?width=1004&format=png&auto=webp&s=46853cf7b1e45a8c1a2d4ced53cc65ec1bba0276

reddit.com

u/FlakyDingo463 — 1 month ago

▲ 172 r/RKLB+1 crossposts

Is Rocket Lab Constructing A 4th Electron/HASTE Launch Pad?

Today rocket lab was awarded a $266m contract for 12 HASTE missions to be launched from Alaska, a location that Rocket Lab doesn't currently have a launch pad at. That contract has already been spoken about a lot on this sub, but don't worry - this post won't just be about that. I want to particularly discuss whether or not Rocket Lab will be sharing an existing launch pad at the Pacific Spaceport Complex, or whether they will be constructing a new one (LC-4?).

Initially I was quite a big believer in Rocket Lab just sharing another existing pad. They already have LC-2, and that pad is nowhere near capacity. But then I remembered Rocket Lab's 'upcoming launches' page. HASTE launches usually display 'Launch Complex 2' as the launch location, and we could see this with Andurils upcoming HASTE launch. But just below that is the first of 20 HASTE launches for MACH-TB, and the location there is 'Undisclosed'.

Why would Rocket Lab keep the launch location undisclosed if it was going to launch from LC-2, which is a very well disclosed and documented launch pad? Well what if the 20 HASTE missions aren't launching from LC-2, as originally expected? If that's the case, then we could actually be looking at as many as 38 HASTE launches from Alaska (the 20 from MACH-TB, plus the 12 guaranteed in this contract + 6 optional launches also from Alaska).

If it is the case that all 20 MACH-TB launches will also be launching from Alaska, or even half of them, then I believe we may be seeing a new exclusive launch pad for Rocket Lab. In other words, Rocket Lab may have been secretly constructing an LC-4.

Any thoughts?

https://preview.redd.it/zzw7km4a3oeh1.png?width=2306&format=png&auto=webp&s=2328de56e03e2c5057f34400021d2561cf185661

reddit.com

u/FlakyDingo463 — 1 month ago

▲ 291 r/RKLB

4 Upcoming Missions From LC-1

(1st image) This is the busiest the LC-1 vehicle hangar has ever been. Although Rocket Lab blurred the other mission patches, we can make a good guess of what they'll be.

Third from the left is definitely The Grain Goddess Provides - they've already got that patch on their website. (https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/iqps/)

We also know LOXSAT is there somewhere, so either the 2nd or 4th fairings (probably the 4th for a reason I'll explain next), as LOXSAT is launching NET 25th June 2026. (https://etaspace.com/loxsat)

That leaves one unknown mission though. Call me crazy, but the mission patch on the second fairing (although blurred) reminds me a lot of the mission patch for Get The Hawk Outta Here - I've left that mission patch here (2nd image) and you can decide yourself. RocketLab usually themes patches similarly, making me think this is possibly a HawkEye 360 mission?

Synspective, iQPS, LOXSAT, and an unknown mission (possibly HawkEye?) all within the next few weeks.

On a related note, In February Rocket Lab announced they were expanding their LC-1 Vehicle hangar. I've compared to older photos (3rd image), and it doesn't look like the expansion has happened yet. So I wonder how many Electrons they could process at once at LC-1 after the expansion? They must be expecting a serious increase in cadence.

u/FlakyDingo463 — 2 months ago

▲ 211 r/RKLB

U.S. Space Force Issues Request For Information For SLC-9 To Expand Launch Capabilities At VSFB

The U.S. Space Force has issued an RFI to identify industry launch service providers interested in obtaining a real property use agreement to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain small or medium vertical space launch capabilities to provide space launch services to the Department of War, non-DoW Federal, and other commercial entities at an area identified as Space Launch Complex-9 (SLC-9).

I'd be pretty surprised if Rocket Lab doesn't go for this. They said in a recent interview that they would want a 2nd U.S. Electron pad if HASTE keeps expanding. Infrastructure takes years to develop, if they think they'll need the capacity in a few years then now is a great time to begin working on it.

Additionally, it makes sense for Rocket Lab to establish an Electron presence at a launch site which they can later expand for Neutron - that way they can share some infrastructure, employees, control room, etc, which would reduce the fixed costs for the location.

IMO HASTE is currently reliant on one launch pad (LC-2). If anything happens at that launch site, or to the launch pad, HASTE (and any other missions required to launch from U.S. soil) would be put on hold. Before, with only a few HASTE missions in the backlog, that probably wasn't a huge concern but now there's at least 23 HASTE missions in the backlog all relying on one single pad and launch site.

Any thoughts?

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4511304/us-space-force-issues-request-for-information-for-slc-9-to-expand-launch-capabi/

u/FlakyDingo463 — 2 months ago

▲ 178 r/RKLB

Rocket Lab Adds 5 New Neutron and 3 New Electron Launches

Rocket Lab added 5 new Neutron Launches and 3 new Electron launches to their manifest with a confidential customer this quarter.

This is highly speculative, but in their Q1 earnings press release they say in regards to the Golden Dome partnership with Raytheon: "Rocket Lab’s launch and satellite capabilities are both being utilized for SBI". Notably, these launches are to be completed by 2029 which is when Trump wants the Golden Dome to be completed.

Could this launch contract be for the Golden Dome? If not, it seems that there is further launch bookings to be added in relation to the Golden Dome soon.

Q1 press release: https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rocket-lab-announces-first-quarter-2026-financial-results
New launch contract press release: https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rocket-labs-biggest-launch-deal-yet-confidential-customer-books

reddit.com

u/FlakyDingo463 — 4 months ago

▲ 211 r/RKLB

Raytheon published a Linkedin post detailing a new 'partnership' with Rocket Lab relating to their April 24th Golden Dome award: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/raytheon_news-activity-7457798883126149120-Ho5D

Quote

>📰#NEWS: Raytheon, partnering with Rocket Lab, has been selected to demonstrate advanced capabilities for the United States Space Force’s Space Based Interceptor program. The program is an important step in strengthening national missile defense capabilities.

>Together, Raytheon and Rocket Lab are contributing proven expertise to advance the development of effective solutions for this urgent security need.

>Raytheon and Rocket Lab stand ready to deliver.

>Details: https://rtxcorp.co/4uBlOnw

Although Rocket Lab was not mentioned in that press release, and Rocket Lab themselves have not confirmed this partnership, this post seems to suggest they have a pretty strong involvement.

Tomorrow is Earnings. All will be confirmed then. Hopefully this is a big partnership and not just a small subcontracting gig.

u/FlakyDingo463 — 4 months ago

▲ 14 r/TrueUnpopularOpinion

As an outside observer of US-Politics, I find it interesting that when someone, or a group of people, from one side commits an atrocity, that sides' first instinct is to call it staged.

We saw this with January 6th. Trump supporters did not believe that their side was capable of storming the capitol, because they believe that they are peaceful and are on the right side of history. So they immediately looked for other explanations. "Trump requested 10,000 national guard officers, and democrats denied it to make it happen!", or "There were plants in the crowd riling everyone up", or "Nancy Pelosi staged it".

We are now seeing the same is true for the left. They don't believe that their own side is capable of assassinating a president. The only explanation is that it must be staged. It must be for Trumps PR, or to get his ballroom.

Neither side ever wants to believe that they are capable of anything bad. Trump supporters stormed the U.S capitol. The left have attempted to assassinate him several times now. They are both as bad as each other. This is an unpopular opinion, but I think people will have a hard time saying it's untrue.

reddit.com

u/FlakyDingo463 — 4 months ago