https://spacewatch.global/tag/sir-peter-beck/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:11:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/sir-peter-beck/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/rocket-lab-launches-u-s-space-forces-victus-haze-mission-in-16-hours-42-minutes-surpassing-previous-records/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75153 Rocket Lab has successfully launched its Electron rocket and deployed its Pioneer spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s VICTUS HAZE Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission. Lifting off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the mission surpassed the previous TacRS record set by 2024's VICTUS NOX mission by more than 10 hours, establishing a new global standard for rapid call-up space capabilities. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/rocket-lab-to-join-the-nasdaq-100-index-on-the-back-of-more-than-80-successful-rocket-launches/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=74909 Rocket Lab has announced its inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index, placing the company among the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Rocket Lab’s addition to the index will become effective prior to market open on Monday, 22 June, 2026.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/rocket-lab-wins-anduril-industries-30-million-contract-for-haste-hypersonic-rocket-launches/ Thu, 14 May 2026 06:00:13 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73893 Anduril has selected Rocket Lab for multiple hypersonic HASTE test flights - a $30 million contract advancing Mach 5+ capabilities for defence missions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/rocket-lab-to-acquire-motiv-space-systems-adding-mars-proven-robotics-heritage-and-capability-to-its-portfolio/ Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73777 Rocket Lab has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a California-based company specializing in space robotics, motion control systems, and precision mechanisms for spacecraft. Motiv, to be branded Rocket Lab Robotics, is renowned for its advanced multi-degree of freedom robotic arms, actuators, and drive electronics that have enabled numerous space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover, the CADRE lunar rovers, and precision mechanisms supporting scientific instruments and spacecraft subsystems. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/rocket-lab-completes-mynaric-acquisition-adding-laser-communications-to-its-space-systems-portfolio/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72979 Rocket Lab has completed the acquisition of Mynaric, a Munich-based provider of laser optical communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications. The acquisition strengthens Rocket Lab’s extensive capabilities as a launch provider, spacecraft manufacturer, and supplier of satellite components at scale to the global space market.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/rocket-lab-set-to-acquire-munich-based-mynaric-expanding-its-footprint-into-europe/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72502 Rocket Lab has received German regulatory approval to acquire Munich-based Mynaric. The deal could close as early as April.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/rocket-lab-launches-celeste-europes-low-earth-orbit-satellite-navigation-demo-mission/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72438 Rocket Lab has delivered ESA's Celeste mission to orbit — the first LEO satellite navigation demo for Europe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/rocket-lab-launches-latest-strix-satellite-for-multi-launch-customer-synspective/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72229 Rocket Lab has successfully launched Synspective's latest satellite mission, bringing the company's total Electron launch for Sysnpective to eight missions. The “Eight Days A Week” mission launched on the Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on Saturday, 21 March, deploying the eighth StriX satellite to a 573km low Earth orbit. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/rocket-lab-secures-190m-contract-for-20-haste-launches-with-u-s-department-of-war/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72142 Rocket Lab has signed its single largest launch agreement yet, a $190 million contract for a block buy of 20 hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle for the Test Resource Management Center, Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed 2.0 program. Under the Task Area 1 segment of the program, Rocket Lab will perform 20 hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle over a four-year period. Furthermore, the first of these 20 new missions will tentatively occur within months of contract signing.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/rocket-lab-acquires-optical-support-inc-strengthening-its-national-security-payload-capability/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71595 Rocket Lab has completed the acquisition of Optical Support, Inc., a manufacturer of custom, high-precision optical and optomechanical instruments, positioning itself as a disruptive vertically integrated prime contractor enabling critical defense programs including the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/rocket-lab-launches-neonsat-1a-earth-imaging-satellite-for-korean-neonsat-constellation/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70814 Rocket Lab Corporation has successfully launched its 81st Electron rocket and second launch in eight days, deploying the NEONSAT-1A satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)'s Earth-observation constellation. The ‘Bridging The Swarm’ mission lifted off earlier today, January 30th from Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site, Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, to deploy the NEONSAT-1A satellite to a 540 km low Earth orbit. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/rocket-lab-successfully-completes-its-first-launch-of-2026-for-open-cosmos/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70662 Rocket Lab has successfully completed its 1st launch of 2026 and its 80th Electron launch overall. The mission ‘The Cosmos Will See You Now’ lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on Thursday, 22 January. The mission deployed two satellites into a 1,050 km circular Earth orbit for Open Cosmos, a first-time dedicated launch.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/rocket-lab-ends-2025-with-21-launches-and-100-mission-success-with-successful-iqps-launch/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70024 Rocket Lab has launched its 21st and final Electron rocket of the year to deploy the latest satellite to space for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company. With a 100% launch success in 2025, the mission cements Electron as one of the world’s most frequently-launched small-lift orbital rocket.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/rocket-lab-launches-first-dedicated-electron-mission-for-the-japan-aerospace-exploration-agency-jaxa/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69828 Rocket Lab has launched its first dedicated mission for JAXA, marking a pivotal refection of Electron’s global importance for regular, reliable, and dedicated access to space. The “RAISE And Shine” mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on December 14, 2025 to successfully deploy JAXA's RAISE-4 spacecraft.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/rocket-lab-schedules-first-dedicated-launch-for-jaxa-continuing-its-run-of-launches-in-a-year/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69194 Rocket Lab Corporation has announced the launch window for the first of two dedicated Electron launches with JAXA. The mission, named “RAISE And Shine”, will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on December 5 UTC. “RAISE And Shine” is also scheduled to be Rocket Lab’s 19th launch this year, continuing Rocket Lab’s record-breaking run of dedicated launches in a single year. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/blue-origins-new-glenn-vehicle-launches-rocket-labs-explorer-satellites-on-nasas-escapade-mission/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68976 The New Glenn orbital launch vehicle has completed its second mission, successfully deploying NASA's ESCAPADE twin-spacecraft. The launch took place from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The NASA and University of California Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory ESCAPADE mission will use the pair of identical spacecraft to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment and how this interaction drives the Red Planet’s atmospheric escape. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-and-deploys-sixth-earth-imaging-satellite-for-iqps/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:00:55 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68826 Rocket Lab has successfully launched its 74th Electron mission, deploying the QPS-SAR-14 satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS). ‘The Nation God Navigates’ mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 19:51 UTC on November 5th to deploy a single SAR imaging satellite; QPS-SAR-14 to a 575km circular Earth orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/rocket-lab-launches-7th-strix-satellite-on-first-of-21-launches-for-synspective/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68364 Rocket Lab Corporation has launched its 15th mission of the year and the first of 21 new launches for Synspective. The “Owl New World” mission launched on Electron from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 16:33 UTC on October 14, deploying the seventh StriX satellite to a 583km low Earth orbit. The mission was the first of a series of 21 dedicated Electron launches to take place between now and the end of the decade for Synspective, a SAR satellite data and analytics company from Japan. It was also the seventh Electron mission completed for Synspective since rocket launches to deploy their constellation began in December 2020.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/rocket-lab-secures-multi-launch-contract-with-iqps-for-three-dedicated-electron-missions/ Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68277 Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has signed a multi-launch deal with iQPS to deploy the company’s commercial Earth-imaging constellation into orbit. The multi-launch contract includes three dedicated Electron missions that will launch no earlier than 2026 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. With four dedicated missions already booked by iQPS on Electron, these three additional missions bring the total number of upcoming launches for iQPS to seven.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/rocket-lab-acquire-geost-from-lightridge-solutions/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67148 Rocket Lab Corporation has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the parent holding company of Geost LLC. The acquisition, first announced on May 27, 2025, was completed for $275 million before closing adjustments, comprising approximately $125 million in cash and 3,057,588 shares of Rocket Lab common stock. The acquisition also included an additional potential earnout of up to $50 million tied to future revenue targets of Geost’s business.]]>