Rocket Lab announced on May 8 that its upcoming Neutron rocket will fly a groundbreaking mission for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), testing reentry and rapid cargo delivery capabilities. The mission, set for no earlier than 2026, is part of the AFRL’s Rocket Cargo program under the Department of Defense (DoD).
This marks a major step for Neutron, the company’s new medium-lift reusable rocket, as it nears its debut flight later this year. The AFRL mission will demonstrate point-to-point transport, an ambitious concept aiming to move critical cargo globally at rocket speed.
We’ve signed a launch contract on Neutron with the @AFResearchLab to test point-to-point global cargo delivery.
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) May 8, 2025
AFRL’s payload will be launched on Neutron and return to Earth in a demonstration of re-entry capability for future missions.
Launching NET 2026. Full details:… pic.twitter.com/GtZDtOuTWn
With Neutron lining up its first flights and the U.S. government increasingly onboard, Rocket Lab is positioning itself for a larger slice of defense-related space activity.
“Neutron is a powerful new launch option that will set a new standard for performance, affordability, and reliability for government and commercial space users in medium launch. This opportunity for the U.S. Air Force not only helps to advance space logistics, it also demonstrates a high degree of confidence by the DOD in Neutron’s capabilities”.
— Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab Founder and CEO
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A season of highs and headwinds
The AFRL contract isn’t Rocket Lab’s only major development this spring. In late March, the U.S. Space Force selected the company for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 program, opening the door to dozens of missions through 2029 alongside giants like SpaceX and ULA.
At the same time, Rocket Lab faces legal headwinds. A class-action lawsuit filed in April accuses the company of misleading investors about delays and infrastructure issues affecting the Neutron program. The complaint cites barge landing setbacks and a discounted contract with an “unreliable” partner as areas of concern.
Still, confidence in Neutron’s future appears strong. Rocket Lab unveiled Return On Investment in February, a 400-foot ocean platform for recovering Neutron’s reusable first stage.
The company has acquired the barge, and construction will continue through 2025. The platform aims to enter service in 2026.
Rocket Lab is navigating a critical phase as scrutiny grows alongside government support: proving Neutron’s potential while managing investor expectations and operational transparency.
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A rocket built for a new era of launch
Neutron is designed from the ground up for reusability, national security missions, and human-rated launches, an ambitious trifecta in a maturing commercial space market. The rocket is optimized for rapid turnaround and low-cost operations, featuring a carbon composite structure and an integrated fairing system.
Under the hood, Neutron will rely on Archimedes, Rocket Lab’s in-house reusable LOX/methane engine, designed to power the rocket’s first stage efficiently and thrust tailored for medium-lift missions. Engine testing is progressing alongside structural integration.
Recent tests show hardware coming together fast. Rocket Lab revealed a fully assembled top section of Stage 1, featuring the “hungry hippo” fairing, aerodynamic canards, and the extended interstage, some of its most complex mechanical elements. Meanwhile, activation is underway at Launch Complex 3 on the U.S. East Coast, with a successful water deluge system test hinting at a first launch site nearly ready.
With its maiden flight targeted for late 2025, Neutron is pacing toward a competitive role among medium-lift rockets. Rocket Lab is entering its most crucial engineering stretch as the vehicle nears the pad, turning hardware milestones into flight-ready reality.
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