U.S. Space Force Awards Rocket Lab Launch Contract for Space Test Program (STP)-S30
09 April 2024 - 12:30AM
Business Wire
The mission will be Rocket Lab’s third for the
U.S. Space Force, further strengthening Electron’s position as the
leading small launch vehicle delivering reliable and responsive
launch to the DoD
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”) today announced it has been awarded a $14.49 million task
order by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to launch an Electron mission
from Launch Complex 2. The mission, called Space Test Program-30
(STP-S30) falls under the Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured
Access to Space organization and is part of Orbital Services
Program-4 (OSP-4).
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Electron at Launch Complex 2 at the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA Wallops Flight Facility
in Virginia. Image credit. Austin Adams
The dedicated Electron launch is scheduled to take place within
24 months from contract award and will lift off from Launch Complex
2, a dedicated pad for the Electron rocket at Virginia Spaceport
Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within the NASA Wallops
Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. STP-S30 is a complex
mission that will deliver research experiments and technology
demonstrations to orbit for the DoD and contribute to future space
systems development. The projected primary payload, DISKSat, will
demonstrate sustained very low earth orbit (VLEO) flight and test a
unique, 1-meter diameter, disk-shaped satellite bus that is
designed to increase on-orbit persistence.
"Flexible, responsive, and reliable launch is critical to
ensuring resilient space capabilities for the nation and we’re
proud to deliver it to the Space Force once again with Electron,”
said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “After more than 40
successful launches from pads spanning both hemispheres, we’ve
delivered time and time again for DoD, national security, and
commercial space users alike, cementing Electron’s position as the
leading small launch solution globally. We’re excited to
demonstrate this unique combination of mature proven execution,
speed, and agility for STP-S30.”
Rocket Lab has a long track record of delivering mission success
for the USSF on Electron, including the successful launch of an Air
Force Research Laboratory-sponsored demonstration satellite called
Monolith in 2021, and the successful launch of the STP-27RD mission
research and development satellites for the DoD in 2019. Rocket Lab
is also working closely with the USSF for the development of the
Company’s new medium-lift vehicle Neutron through a $24.35 million
contract with SSC to support development of Neutron's upper
stage.
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and
on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more
affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach,
California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small
orbital launch vehicle, the Photon satellite platform, and the
Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January
2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second
most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered
180+ satellites to orbit for private and public sector
organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific
research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate
monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft
platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and
Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus.
Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two
launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand
and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained
in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in
this press release other than statements of historical fact,
including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and
space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and
repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational
expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The
words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,”
“continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,”
“could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
though not all forward-looking statements use these words or
expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees,
but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the
factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such
factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section
of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such
forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of
the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim
any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views
to change.
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Rocket Lab Media Contact Morgan Bailey
media@rocketlabusa.com
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