Rocket Lab Inks Neutron Launch Deal with Kepler Communications
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced it has been selected to launch a dedicated Neutron mission for space infrastructure company Kepler Communications Inc (Kepler).
Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia, no earlier than 2028, Neutron will deploy multiple satellites to low Earth orbit, expanding Kepler’s constellation with additional optical connectivity, on-orbit compute, and hosted payload capacity. The satellites will support a range of commercial and government missions.
While Kepler has previously relied on rideshare capacity to deploy its first 33 satellites, this Neutron launch contract is the first time they’ve booked a dedicated mission on a commercial launch vehicle – providing Kepler with much greater control over launch schedule and orbital parameters to meet their constellation requirements.
Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab said: “We’re proud to add Kepler to the growing list of organizations selecting Neutron to deliver their missions to orbit. Neutron is the space industry’s next generation medium-lift rocket that puts constellation operators in the driver’s seat with tailored missions and secure access to space.”
“Selecting Rocket Lab for our first dedicated launch marks an important milestone for Kepler as we continue to scale our infrastructure,” said Mina Mitry, CEO and co-founder of Kepler. “Our customer demand continues to grow, and dedicated launch provides the flexibility to expand and deliver more capacity and capability to the missions we support.”
This latest mission in a consecutive streak of commercial contracts pushes Neutron’s manifest toward full capacity through the end of the decade, demonstrating the competitive solution that Neutron brings to medium-lift launch globally. Engineered to deliver the world’s most important missions to space, Neutron combines reusability, innovation and performance, and Rocket Lab’s proven flight heritage to deliver a rocket to break worldwide launch constraints and keep constellations on track.