0
Total Launches
0
Successful
0%
Success Rate
0
Consec. Success
The Story
Rocket Lab was founded in New Zealand in 2006 by Peter Beck, an engineer who taught himself rocketry from library books and built his first rocket in a garage. While the rest of the industry chased big payloads on big rockets, Beck saw something different — the emerging market of small satellites needed dedicated, freq...
In short
“Peter Beck proved you don't need a billion-dollar government contract to get to orbit — just a clear idea and the stubbornness to see it through.”
Māhia Launch Complex is the world's only private orbital launch site
Electron's Rutherford engine is the first rocket engine manufactured primarily by 3D printing
Rocket Lab builds complete spacecraft in addition to launching them
Electron has deployed satellites for NASA, DARPA, and commercial operators on the same rocket
Milestones
2006
Founded
Peter Beck establishes Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand
2009
Ātea-1
First rocket from the Southern Hemisphere to reach space
2018
Electron reaches orbit
Commercial small satellite service opens for business
2020
Double digits
Electron becomes first small launch vehicle to achieve double-digit launches
2022
Helicopter catch
Electron booster recovered from mid-air by helicopter for the first time
2023
Full space company
Acquisitions make Rocket Lab a complete end-to-end space company
2024
Neutron engines tested
Archimedes engine tests exceed design targets
Key People
What's Next
The road ahead for Rocket Lab
Neutron — Rocket Lab's medium-lift reusable rocket — targets the constellation deployment market currently dominated by Falcon 9. Designed from the start for reusability with a novel landing profile, it represents Rocket Lab's bet that the next decade belongs to medium-lift reusables serving megaconstellations.