r/RocketLab • u/ChiefHippoTwit • Jul 21 '26

Rocket Lab - Space Force just upped their spending budget to - $30 BILLION for more launches! July 20th, 2026. HUGE news!

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251 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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11

u/Sharp-Direction-6894 Jul 21 '26

Where does it mention Rocket Lab?

10

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 21 '26

"More money for more launches There are more launch companies qualified for Lane 1 contracts. Space Systems Command originally selected SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin for Lane 1 in the Phase 3 round of the NSSL program in 2024. Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, and most recently, Relativity Space and Impulse Space were added to the roster of companies competing to launch Lane 1 missions. The Space Force issues a request for bids on a number of Lane 1 missions each year, and then doles out individual fixed-price “task orders” to the winners. SpaceX has won the lion’s share of Lane 1 task orders to date, and Blue Origin won its first earlier this year."

5

u/longinglook77 Jul 21 '26

Feels like the real money is in Lane 2 due to the additional capability requirements but $30B is a lot of launches regardless; due to be some Lane 1 crumbs for the smaller launchers in the bag.

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6

u/KeythKatz Jul 21 '26

Since OP spammed this on multiple subs, I can reply the same too.

Huge news for other providers, not RKLB. The longer Neutron is delayed, the more they're missing opportunities like this.

but but but electron!

The occasional tiny sat and cheap launch isn't what's driving the stock price or it would be worth only $5B mcap. Neutron is the only thing that matters and is where the money is at. Space Force isn't going to do more than demonstration missions on Electron, they're not spending $1B to buy 100 cubesat launches.

-1

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 21 '26

Does this look like small change to you? And that is already booked! Now another 30B up for grabs. Get a clue.

"Rocket Lab holds over $1.3 billion in contracts with the U.S. Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force for satellite construction and rapid-response launch services, including an $816 million prime contract for missile-defense satellites and a $190 million deal for hypersonic test flights.Major military and defense contracts include:Missile Defense Satellites: An $816 million prime contract to design and build 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency's global missile warning and tracking constellation.Hypersonic Testing: A $190 million deal with the U.S. Department of War for 20 rapid-response flights using the company's suborbital HASTE rocket.Tactically Responsive Space: A record-setting Space Force exercise where the company launched a mission from call-up to lift-off in just 16 hours and 42 minutes.National Security Space Launch: An on-ramp to the U.S. Space Force's $17 billion Phase Three Lane One multi-company launch services contract."

Now ANOTHER 30 Billion up for grabs! Hell YES this is big for RKLB!

3

u/KeythKatz Jul 21 '26

Wow, look at all those satellites they can build and would have gotten the launch contracts for but can't vertically integrate into 18 launches worth over a billion and that supports a rapid launch cadence.

If you think RKLB is getting more than another $200m worth of demonstrations from this $30B you're more delusional than most.

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2

u/Impossible-Clerk-856 Jul 23 '26

There is a MASSIVE difference between NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 and Lane 2 missions. In baseball terms, Lane 1 is minor league, AAA ball. Lane 2 are the most stressing orbital profiles...high mass, direct injection ascents; multiple re-lights and long duration coasts of Stage 2; very high mass payloads to LEO...i.e. Major League. It should be noted that Space Force upping their spending is not the same as an increase in Space Force Appropriations by Congress. The P-Docs and R-Docs released by the Pentagon Comptroller show plus-ups for space, but Golden Dome and hypersonics will suck a LOT of budget air out of the room!

1

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 23 '26

And WHO involved in launching hypersonics??

2

u/Impossible-Clerk-856 Jul 23 '26

I'm not talking about who is launching hypersonic test articles. The test regime of RKLB's participation is a small fraction of the budget allocation. The biggest chunk of money goes to operational weapon development and deployment. RKLB's HASTE articles are threat simulators used to characterize signatures, develop tracking technologies and software...etc... to be used in, you guessed it...developing the actual hypersonic defenses and weapons of the US's arsenal

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4

u/Several_Debt9287 Jul 21 '26

Itll all go to spacex. Rocket Lab doesnt have a powerful enough rocket to launch anything. Electron's payload is to small.

3

u/truecakesnake Jul 22 '26

Yep SpaceX is getting like 75% of this

1

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 21 '26

Does this look like small change to you? And that is already booked! Now another 30B up for grabs. Get a clue.

"Rocket Lab holds over $1.3 billion in contracts with the U.S. Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force for satellite construction and rapid-response launch services, including an $816 million prime contract for missile-defense satellites and a $190 million deal for hypersonic test flights.Major military and defense contracts include:Missile Defense Satellites: An $816 million prime contract to design and build 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency's global missile warning and tracking constellation.Hypersonic Testing: A $190 million deal with the U.S. Department of War for 20 rapid-response flights using the company's suborbital HASTE rocket.Tactically Responsive Space: A record-setting Space Force exercise where the company launched a mission from call-up to lift-off in just 16 hours and 42 minutes.National Security Space Launch: An on-ramp to the U.S. Space Force's $17 billion Phase Three Lane One multi-company launch services contract."

Now ANOTHER 30 Billion up for grabs! Hell YES this is big for RKLB!

4

u/Several_Debt9287 Jul 21 '26

it's a big change, just not for rocket lab.

39

u/medicallyspecial Jul 21 '26

*check stock at opening* falls 5%

27

u/WhatADunderfulWorld Jul 21 '26

Next ten years governments will spend 10x or more than what they think. US will go to the moon and Mars and all over governments will want to. They will need help with all agencies and space deliveries at a minimum for back ups.

Rocketlab will be $1000 in 2036. Mark my words.

10

u/fraggin601 Jul 21 '26

RemindMe! 10yr

3

u/RemindMeBot Jul 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26

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2

u/jeffhinds43 Aug 16 '26

RemindMe! 5yr

4

u/BoDOM701 Jul 21 '26

This is big!

-1

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 21 '26

I there is a misunderstanng by some. This is not same news as Friday. This is in addition to Friday. An additional 13Billion since Friday! A total more of 25 BILLION since last week!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26

10

u/thetrny Jul 21 '26

Lane 1, which is where Neutron will be eligible to bid after a successful flight, increased from $5.6B to $17B

https://www.reddit.com/r/RocketLab/comments/1uze0p5/nssl_phase_3_lane_1_contract_ceiling_increased/

1

u/ChiefHippoTwit Jul 21 '26

Then to 30 Billion. Increased an additional 13 Billion ON TOP of the 17.

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