Overview
- A Stage 1 carbon‑composite tank for the Neutron rocket ruptured during a hydrostatic qualification test at Rocket Lab’s Middle River, Maryland facility on Jan. 21.
- The company reported no significant damage to test structures or facilities, and a replacement first‑stage tank is already in production.
- Teams are reviewing test data to determine any impact on Neutron’s schedule, with details to be provided during the Q4 2025 earnings call in February.
- The root cause has not been identified, and it remains unclear whether handling, design, or manufacturing contributed to the failure.
- Neutron is a reusable medium‑lift launcher slated to fly from Wallops Island’s Launch Complex 3, and its maiden launch had previously slipped to 2026.