Rocket Lab Secures $90M Contract for Geostationary Satellites with U.S. Space Force

Rocket Lab Corporation has been awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to design, manufacture, and operate two geostationary satellites. These satellites will host the Heimdall space domain awareness payload, enhancing monitoring capabilities in geostationary orbit. This contract marks Rocket Lab's first venture into geostationary satellite production, transitioning from prototype development to operational delivery. The satellites will be built using Rocket Lab's Lightning bus and will be integrated and tested at their Long Beach facility. The operational period for the satellites is set for five years post-commissioning. This initiative follows the acquisition of two Heimdall payloads in 2025, which were developed for space-based monitoring. The contract emphasizes Rocket Lab's vertically integrated mission model, which includes end-to-end responsibility from design to on-orbit operations.

Key Points: • Rocket Lab awarded a $90 million contract for two geostationary satellites. • The satellites will host the Heimdall space domain awareness payload. • Rocket Lab will manage the entire lifecycle from design to five years of operations.