Key facts
- Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket debut flight is now targeted for 2027.
- The company previously aimed for a fourth-quarter 2026 launch.
- Shares fell about 6% in extended trading.
Rocket Lab announced on Wednesday that the inaugural launch of its new, larger Neutron rocket has been delayed until 2027. The company had previously targeted the fourth quarter of 2026 for the debut flight. In August, Rocket Lab indicated a shift in timeline, aiming to get the vehicle to the launch pad in the fourth quarter of 2026 rather than launching it then. The Neutron rocket is a reusable medium-lift vehicle crucial for Rocket Lab's expansion into larger commercial satellite, civil-space, and US national-security missions. Last month, Rocket Lab secured a multi-year launch agreement for 20 new missions for its Electron launch vehicle with Synspective, an Earth observation company based in Tokyo.