Rocket Lab USA secures $14.5m task order from US Space Force for Electron mission

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leader in space launch services, has been awarded a $14.49 million task order by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) for the launch of the Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30) mission. This mission, which falls under the Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization, is a part of the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4). The Electron mission, dedicated to this task, is scheduled for launch within 24 months from the award date and will take off from Launch Complex 2 at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located within the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The STP-S30 mission aims to deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the Department of Defense (DoD), contributing significantly to future space systems development. The mission’s primary payload, DISKSat, will test a unique disk-shaped satellite bus, designed for sustained flight in very low earth orbit (VLEO), which is expected to enhance on-orbit persistence.

Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing flexible, responsive, and reliable launch services, highlighting the critical importance of such qualities for maintaining resilient space capabilities for the nation. Beck stated, “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.”

Rocket Lab’s proven track record with the USSF is noteworthy, with successful missions including the launch of a demonstration satellite for the Air Force Research Laboratory in 2021, and the STP-27RD mission’s research and development satellites for the DoD in 2019. Furthermore, Rocket Lab is advancing its capabilities with the development of the Neutron, a new medium-lift vehicle, through a $24.35 million contract with SSC, focusing on the development of Neutron’s upper stage.