Overview
- Rocket Lab’s first dedicated JAXA mission, dubbed Raise and Shine, is preparing to fly from New Zealand after weather pushed back the original plan.
- Reports differ on timing, with one listing a window opening Dec. 5 and another stating no earlier than Dec. 7, reflecting scheduling uncertainty.
- The flight is described as Rocket Lab’s 19th Electron launch of 2025 and is set to deploy JAXA’s RAISE-4 satellite, with a second JAXA-dedicated launch planned for 2026.
- Shares jumped Thursday, with Benzinga Pro data showing the stock up 9.51% to $48.96 during the session as traders positioned ahead of liftoff.
- Analysts remained upbeat, with Needham at Buy with a $63 target and Bank of America lifting its target to $60 while citing a potential Neutron debut in Q1 2026, and an investor report claimed 97% U.S. small‑launch payload share excluding SpaceX; Rocket Lab also noted two NASA‑backed spacecraft beginning their journey toward Mars.