Rocket Lab: How a New Zealand Startup Became America's Second Most Active Launcher

Rocket Lab launched its first orbital Electron in early 2018 from a private launch site in New Zealand. By 2026 the company has built a vertically integrated business — small launch, satellite buses, components, and a medium-lift rocket called Neutron. Founder Peter Beck still answers most user questions on social media personally.

Two rockets, two markets

• Electron — 18 m tall, 1.2 m diameter, launches up to 320 kg to LEO. The world's most active dedicated small-payload rocket.
• Neutron — 43 m tall, 7 m diameter, reusable first stage with a "Hungry Hippo" fairing concept where the fairing reattaches rather than separating.

The Rutherford engine

Electron uses nine Rutherford engines on the first stage, each producing 5,500 lbf. They are the first orbital-class rocket engines to use electric pumps powered by lithium polymer batteries instead of turbopumps. The pumps are 3D-printed in Inconel.

Founded

2006 by Peter Beck (Auckland, NZ)

HQ

Long Beach, California (US headquarters and Neutron development)

Launch sites

Launch Complex 1 (Mahia, NZ); Launch Complex 2 (Wallops, Virginia)

Electron launches to date

50+ as of early 2026

Satellite buses delivered

40+

Photon and the components business

Photon is Rocket Lab's satellite bus — derived from Electron's kick stage. NASA's CAPSTONE lunar mission and the upcoming Escapade Mars mission both use Photon. Beyond Photon, Rocket Lab acquired a string of component companies — solar arrays, reaction wheels, separation systems, radios — and now builds satellites end-to-end.

Neutron in context

Neutron targets the "constellation deployment" market: 13 metric tons to LEO, with a reusable first stage that returns to launch site. Its competitors are Falcon 9 and the smaller end of New Glenn. First flight is targeted for the late 2020s.