Rocket Lab wins $90M U.S. Space Force contract for GEO satellites

Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ: RKLB) received a $90 million contract from the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate, and operate two geostationary orbit satellites hosting space domain awareness payloads, the company announced.

The contract represents Rocket Lab's first satellite production program for geostationary orbit. The company will serve as prime contractor for the end-to-end mission, including spacecraft design and manufacture, integration of Heimdall optical payloads, launch integration onto a government-furnished launch vehicle, and on-orbit operations for up to five years following commissioning.

The two satellites will be built on Rocket Lab's Lightning bus, adapted for the thermal, radiation, propulsion, and station-keeping requirements of geostationary orbit. Lightning is currently in production for multiple national security programs, including the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta and Tranche 3 Tracking Layer programs.

The contract extends a Space Systems Command program that began with prototype development of two Heimdall space-based payloads originally awarded to GEOST, which Rocket Lab acquired in 2025 and integrated as Rocket Lab Optical Systems. The Heimdall payloads are electro-optical sensors designed to be hosted on satellites in geosynchronous orbit to augment the Space Force's ability to maintain custody of objects in the GEO belt.

Rocket Lab will conduct spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing at its Long Beach, California facility. The company will provide payload delivery through Rocket Lab Optical Systems and conduct mission operations from Rocket Lab facilities following launch.

The information is based on a company press release statement.

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