Rocket Lab

Official account for Rocket Lab, the end-to-end space company. We build rockets and spacecraft that open access to space to improve life on Earth.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

ESCAPADE is an epic interplanetary mission that may inform future spaceflight to the Red Planet.

Our team has been dedicated to making the science mission a success for more than four years.

Our twin spacecraft – Blue & Gold – are about to fire their engines to execute a trans-Mars Injection maneuver to propel themselves to Mars.

Read more about our commitment and contribution to this science mission for @NASA & @ucbssl here: https://t.co/KFKcU5L3V7

Want to make interplanetary history with us? Our Space Systems team is hiring. See all open positions here: https://t.co/F3ZNC0C0B2

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

✅ Neutron’s Stage 1 Forward Dome has been built and cured.

The dome has come off the AFP machine as planned and completed its heat and pressure processing cycle to cure the carbon composite material.

Next step: analysis and material tests to confirm quality and strength, before it moves to the next phase of Stage 1 tank assembly.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

See you soon, Mars.

Our twin spacecraft – Blue & Gold – are about to execute a trans-Mars Injection maneuver to propel themselves to Mars.

Since launch 12 months ago, the spacecraft we designed and built for @NASA and @ucbssl for the @escapade_mars mission, have been in space making small course corrections.

Now that Earth and Mars are aligned, each spacecraft will ignite their engines for about 9 minutes each, to begin their journey to the Red Planet to study its atmosphere.

Blue’s engine burn takes place: Saturday 7th November
Gold’s engine burn takes place: Monday 9th November

Learn more about this epic scientific mission here: https://t.co/KFKcU5L3V7

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Limited edition tshirts for our 100th mission are available now: https://t.co/rNuwAbhFX6

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Electron's 100th mission. It's almost time.

"The Mountain God Rises" will carry a QPS-SAR satellite for @QPS_Inc to a 575km LEO from Launch Complex 1 no earlier than Saturday Nov 14.

Launch window opens:
🚀6:30pm NZDT
🚀05:30 UTC
🚀2:30pm JST
🚀12:30am Eastern
🚀9:30pm Pacific (Nov 13)

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

This was the last time our team touched these beautiful spacecraft. From contract to complete in 3.5 years. Shipped August 2024. Launched November 2025. Journey to Mars' orbit takes the next big leap in three days.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Before Blue & Gold make their way to Mars, let’s run it back to how we built these spacecraft in-house for a dedicated science mission with @NASA and @ucbssl.

This is our tech currently on orbit for the @escapade_mars mission👇

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Star trackers and reaction wheels, developed in Toronto, Canada.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Solar panels, developed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

We fitted the spacecraft with our own reliable, flight-proven satellite subsystems and components including solar panels.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Explorer spacecraft x2

Blue & Gold are two near-identical spacecraft designed from our Explorer-class spacecraft platform – a high delta-V, interplanetary member of our advanced satellites family. They weigh 535 kilograms each when fueled (wet) or 209 kg each dry.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Hello from orbit!

One of the first images from Maxwell, the spacecraft we built for @Viasat, featuring our solar array.

Maxwell is healthy and moving through commissioning ahead of schedule.

[Viasat @viasat]

Promising progress for Maxwell and our @NASA Communications Services Project. The team is moving towards the first L‑band network relay demo and prepping for the Ka‑band antenna deployment. Excited to continue this mission with @RocketLab and the NASA CSP team.

📸: Rocket Lab

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Get ready: Trans-Mars Injection incoming.

Our two spacecraft - Blue & Gold - will slingshot Earth and shoot for Mars in four days.

The @escapade_mars mission for @NASA & @ucbssl is preparing for TMI – a critical maneuver in this epic interplanetary mission.

Blue’s engine burn scheduled: Saturday 7th November
Gold’s engine burn scheduled: Monday 9th November

Learn more about ESCAPADE here: https://t.co/KFKcU5L3V7

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Mission success! Repeat customer @QPS_Inc has made contact with its latest QPS-SAR satellite following their tenth ride on Electron.

We are proud to be the primary launcher for the Japan-based Earth imaging company's commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation.

Up next: Our 100th Electron launch.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Strengthening national security in space relies on responsive launch and reliable spacecraft. We're proud to deliver both.🛰️🚀

Looking forward to Brad Clevenger, who leads Space Systems work at Rocket Lab, joining @SenKevinCramer at this year’s Space Operations Summit in Grand Forks. Thank you, Senator Cramer, for the invitation!

[Senator Kevin Cramer @SenKevinCramer]

Companies like @RocketLab are playing an important role in strengthening our national security in space. And with more than two decades of experience in satellite missions and space technology, Brad Clevenger has a great perspective on where this industry is headed and the incredible advancements happening across the sector. I’m really honored he’s accepted my invitation to join me in Grand Forks for this year’s Space Operations Summit, and I’m looking forward to our conversation.

Read more about Rocket Lab USA and President Brad Clevenger:
https://t.co/6pJkKbWjwO

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

We've officially launched Electron 99 times.

It took us seven years to reach 50. Now, just two years later, we're closing in on 100.

Highlights from today's mission for @QPS_Inc :
✅Launched on 1st attempt
✅20th mission of the year
✅99th Electron mission overall
✅10th launch for iQPS with 100% mission success

[Peter Beck @Peter_J_Beck]

Flight 99, 100% mission success

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Missed lift-off? Rewatch the livestream: https://t.co/sn2ZaMWq8m

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Mission success! Payload deployment confirmed from Electron's Kick Stage for the latest QPS-SAR satellite by @QPS_Inc - our tenth launch for their constellation with 100% mission success.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

SECO confirmed from Mission Control. Electron's second stage, with @QPS_Inc' QPS-SAR satellite attached, is now in a transfer orbit ahead of payload deployment within the hour.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

LIFTOFF! Our 99th Electron is on its way to space.

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

🚀 Join us LIVE to watch Electron launch for the 99th time: "The Sea God Surveys" for @QPS_Inc
https://t.co/H6idOkMxY4