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Rocket Lab Launches U.S. Space Force STP‑S30 From Virginia, Advancing Mission Five Months Early

The accelerated flight underscores a responsive-launch model ahead of a planned Neutron test early next year.

Overview

  • Electron lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island on Dec. 18 at 12:03 a.m. ET, placing payloads into low Earth orbit.
  • The mission deployed four DiskSats built by The Aerospace Corporation, managed by Space Systems Command’s System Delta 89, with funding from NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems program.
  • The flight marked Electron’s 20th launch of 2025 and Rocket Lab’s 78th mission overall, extending a record annual cadence.
  • It was Rocket Lab’s fourth LC‑2 launch in the past three months for national security objectives, highlighting rapid, repeatable access to orbit.
  • Recent context includes $155 million in Q3 revenue and a ~$1.1 billion backlog, a Bank of America price target raised to $60, and company guidance targeting a Neutron test early next year with three revenue flights projected after a successful test.