Electron / launch vehicle

key details

faq

facts

events

• noise2026-09-02Rocket Lab launches Synspective's 11th StriX SAR satellite
• major2026-09-01Blue Origin wins $700M NASA Mars Telecommunications Network contract
• notable2026-08-28SpaceX asks FCC to scrutinize Iridium's conduct in Rocket Lab merger review
• noise2026-08-24KSAT opens Hyperion customer demonstrations for HYPER network
• noise2026-08-20Rocket Lab launches 9th iQPS radar-imaging satellite
• notable2026-08-17Viasat picks Rocket Lab to build small GEO satellite for Space Force
• notable2026-08-13Space Force awards five satellite firms $60 million for network tests
• notable2026-08-10Kepler books first dedicated Rocket Lab Neutron launch for 2028
• notable2026-08-10Rocket Lab establishes German subsidiary for sovereign satellite manufacturing
• notable2026-08-10Rocket Lab unveils GHOST containerized launch system for Electron and HASTE
• notable2026-08-10Rocket Lab says first Neutron launch may slip to 2027
• noise2026-08-06Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS radar-imaging satellite after 5-week delay
• major2026-08-04Rocket Lab wins $397 million Space Force contract for AMTI Flatellites
• notable2026-07-31Space Force picks 15 firms for $981 million space test and training contract
• notable2026-07-30Rocket Lab signs third iQPS launch deal for three more Electron missions
• major2026-07-21Rocket Lab wins $266 million Space Force contract for HASTE launches
• notable2026-07-17Space Force triples NSSL Lane 1 launch contract ceiling to $17 billion
• notable2026-07-13Rocket Lab completes full-duration burn of Neutron's second-stage engine
• notable2026-07-07Rocket Lab CFO says 'panic' setting in over Falcon 9 rideshare access
• major2026-07-07Rocket Lab completes VICTUS HAZE mission for Space Force in record time
• notable2026-07-02True Anomaly images Rocket Lab's satellite in VICTUS HAZE drill
• seismic2026-06-29Rocket Lab agrees to acquire Iridium in $8 billion cash-and-stock deal
• noise2026-06-26Synspective's 10th StriX SAR satellite reaches orbit on Rocket Lab Electron
• notable2026-06-19Rocket Lab launches VICTUS HAZE Puma spacecraft for Space Force

timeline

1. 20232023-09-19incidentWe Will Never Desert You (Capella Acadia 2) launch failureoutcome: Launch Failurecause: Ignition failure of the 2nd stage after separation. (source, as of 2026-07-08)
2. 20212021-05-15incidentRunning Out of Toes (BlackSky 8-9) launch failureoutcome: Launch Failurecause: Unspecified issue shortly after stage two ignition (source, as of 2026-07-08)
3. 20202020-07-04incidentPics Or It Didn’t Happen (Rideshare) launch failureoutcome: Launch Failurecause: Launch vehicle suffered an anomaly during the second stage that resulted in the loss of the mission and all satellite payloads. (source, as of 2026-07-08)
4. 20172017-05-25incidentIt's a Test launch failureoutcome: Launch Failurecause: Third-party contractor supporting the launch misconfigured ground equipment that translated radio signals from the rocket into data used by range safety officials. That caused “extensive corruption of received position data,” resulting in the data loss that led safety officials to trigger the rocket’s flight termination system. (source, as of 2026-07-08)

sources