The US Air Force has chosen Rocket Lab's next-generation Neutron rocket for an experimental mission focused on rapid global cargo delivery. This marks a substantial achievement for Rocket Lab as it expands its presence in the national security launch market. The mission, scheduled for no earlier than 2026, is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) “rocket cargo” program, investigating the potential of commercial launch vehicles to deliver supplies anywhere on Earth within hours – a concept comparable to airlift logistics but utilizing spaceflight.
Rocket Lab revealed the award on May 8, although the contract's value remains undisclosed. During a first-quarter earnings call, Rocket Lab's founder and CEO, Peter Beck, described the Air Force initiative as still in its early stages. “That program is really at the very beginning of its development within the U.S. government,” Beck said. “So I think we’re very much in the experimental phase. And it’ll be interesting to see if that turns into a full requirement for an operational capability.” He added that it’s “good to be on that program, working on it early.”
The cargo test will serve as a “survivability experiment,” with Neutron carrying a payload designed to re-enter Earth's atmosphere, demonstrating its capacity for safe cargo transport and deployment. Beck mentioned that the launch will be a “multi-manifest” mission, involving multiple payloads. Neutron, capable of lifting up to 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit, is on track for its first launch in 2025, according to Beck. The company assures that both launch pad construction at Wallops Island, Virginia, and rocket development are progressing as planned.
This cargo experiment contract follows what Beck termed the “big news item in this quarter” – Rocket Lab's selection to compete for national security launch contracts. The Space Systems Command announced on March 27 that Rocket Lab and Stoke Space would be competing against established players like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program. This contract allows the selected companies to bid on launch service orders through 2029, with projections of at least 30 missions, totaling an estimated $5.6 billion in task orders. Beck referred to the Lane 1 selection as a “huge vote of confidence by the Pentagon,” noting, “We’re also the only publicly traded company to ever on-board NSSL. Once we’re clear of Neutron’s first launch, we’ll be bidding for task orders.” A $5 million task order for initial mission assurance reviews has already been awarded to Rocket Lab following its NSSL inclusion, with a kickoff meeting held with key government stakeholders, including the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office.