Rocket Lab Unveils New High-Performance Star Tracker Optimized for Accuracy in Increased Radiation Environments

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, have announced its next-generation High-Performance Star Tracker (ST-HP), designed to improve key performance metrics for longer duration spacecraft missions in low Earth orbit and beyond.

The High-Performance Star Tracker combines enhanced resilience with a targeted pointing accuracy of better than 1 arcsecond, ideal for missions where radiation tolerance is critical. The ST-HP's greater than 50 kRad, board-level Total Irradiation Dose ensures sustained attitude determination performance, maintaining precise spacecraft pointing and payload stability over long-duration missions.

Building on Rocket Lab’s proven star tracker heritage, with more than 185 units launched to date, the High-Performance Star Tracker combines flight-proven, in-house expertise with advanced radiation hardening. The result is a low-cost, scalable solution that can be produced rapidly without sacrificing performance or reliability.

“Rocket Lab continues to evolve our end-to-end offerings by introducing state-of-the-art solutions to meet the changing needs of commercial and government missions,” said Brad Clevenger, President of Rocket Lab USA. “By building on decades of experience, we’re delivering a more resilient product that gives customers the high accuracy and performance they need without added cost, lead time, or manufacturing risk.”

The new High-Performance Star Tracker expands Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated component suite, which also includes reaction wheels, separation systems, radios, flight software, ground software, solar power solutions, optical payloads, and more. All components are designed and manufactured in-house across Rocket Lab’s facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. Rocket Lab’s Toronto facility, home to the Company’s star tracker production, features state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities including thermal chambers, vibration rigs, X-ray machines, optical inspections and calibrations, and clean-room environments supporting every stage of the star tracker development and qualification.