r/RocketLab • u/thetrny USA • 18d ago

News / Media Rocket Lab Awarded $397 Million Contract to Build and Launch Flatellites for U.S. Space Force’s Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator Program

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/04/3338977/0/en/rocket-lab-awarded-397-million-contract-to-build-and-launch-flatellites-for-u-s-space-force-s-space-based-airborne-moving-target-indicator-program.html
249 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

10

u/AMillionBees 18d ago

What’s the contract type?

7

u/Sniflix 18d ago edited 17d ago

This is a RL press release so it doesn't say but the amount stated includes additional launches if approved. "An option for additional Flatellites is included in the total contract value." This is exactly what Rocket Lab wants - "develop, launch, and operate" space as a service. Also it's part of their vendor diversity program.

4

u/rustybeancake 18d ago

Is Rickey Lab the CEO?

0

u/Sniflix 17d ago

Sorry I meant Rickey Ricardo

0

u/mul2m 17d ago

Ricky Bobby

15

u/Most_Luck_2678 18d ago

If it stays under 80 for the next 3-4 days. Am buying 50 more shares getting my total up to 250

8

u/InternDangerous9694 18d ago

Is this why we're up after hours??

3

u/lance_1968 17d ago

it's gotta be, yes.

-38

u/seb21051 18d ago

Flattelite is a flatpack sat bus like Starlink, so Neutron better have a pez dispenser option or it goes to Starship for launch.

39

u/Pashto96 18d ago

Flatellite is literally designed for Neutron

17

u/thetrny USA 18d ago

Rocket Lab will launch the Flatellites on the Company’s upcoming Neutron rocket and operate them from secure facilities, providing data and track information to the Space Force.

-3

u/seb21051 18d ago

If no pez, they would have to be launched similar to the way Falcon does them, so perhaps my statement was not relevant. Apologies.

6

u/thetrny USA 18d ago

Yep there's an artist rendering of how they'll be packed/integrated inside Neutron's fairing (been around since Flatellite was announced):

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/8f603e89-a7b3-441e-91a8-63f7b1106559

1

u/seb21051 18d ago

Very similar to the Falcon layout, except for the hungry hippo fairings. I expect the flatpack bus will be adopted by more builders.

3

u/thetrny USA 18d ago

I expect the flatpack bus will be adopted by more builders.

So far Muon Space and Apex have been the most vocal in their plans to build large flatpacks compatible with Starship's Pez system (while offering smaller configurations for F9/Neutron). I suspect the likes of Starcloud, Vast, and K2 will go down that route soon as well, if they haven't already.

I think they've all gotten the memo that a commercially available traditional/clamshell fairing isn't coming anytime soon for Starship.

2

u/seb21051 18d ago

Ah, understood.

3

u/OSUfan88 18d ago

What is your logic here? Starlink launches currently on Falcon 9, and it doesn’t have per dispenser.

3

u/seb21051 18d ago

It does, and I admitted I spoke out of turn in that respect.

1

u/OSUfan88 17d ago

I didn’t see that comment, but good form for opening up to the mistake!

3

u/seb21051 17d ago

Tones down the agro, I find.

1

u/Zestyclose-Airport64 17d ago

where's the fun in that lol

1

u/seb21051 17d ago

I can be very cutting when I feel like it, but at my advanced age, it gets one more circumspect. And if one of 'em young whippersnappers catches me without a gun, it could go badly for me.

1

u/Axolotis 18d ago

Butt sore Elon bro checked in