Rocket Lab Neutron

Rocket Lab Neutron is a new type of rocket being built by the company Rocket Lab. It was announced on March 1, 2021, and is designed to carry heavy loads into space. The rocket can carry up to 13,000 kg (28,700 lb) into a path around Earth called low Earth orbit.

This rocket is special because parts of it can be used again after a flight, which is called a partially reusable configuration. It will help send many small satellites into space for things like communication and tracking, known as the megaconstellation market. The first time this rocket will fly is expected to be in late 2026. The rocket has two main sections that work together to get payloads into space, making it a two-stage launch vehicle. It is also called a medium-lift rocket because of how much it can carry.

Design

The Neutron rocket is designed to be partly reusable. Its first stage has a diameter of 7 meters and includes landing legs and special wings to help it land safely. Instead of dropping its protective cover like many rockets, Neutron keeps its cover attached with hinges, which helps it stay reusable.

The second stage of the Neutron is hidden inside this special cover and is made from strong carbon materials. It uses a single engine to help it reach its destination in space. After its job, the first stage is planned to land on a special floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean called Return on Investment.

Design History

Rocket Lab first talked about Neutron in March 2021. At that time, they planned a rocket that was 40 meters tall with a special part on top to hold satellites safely. They wanted to make the bottom part of the rocket reusable and land it on a special ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

By December 2021, Rocket Lab changed their plans. The new design was taller and thinner, about 7 meters wide. Instead of dropping the top part into the ocean, they decided to keep it attached to the rocket. This part opens up to let go of the satellites and then closes again to help the rocket land back safely.

In September 2022, they showed more changes. They added two more engines to the bottom of the rocket and changed how these engines work. This helps make the rocket more efficient. They also simplified the top part of the rocket by using just two sections instead of four.

By July 2023, Rocket Lab made even more changes. They redesigned the landing legs to make them better for landing on ships at sea, similar to how SpaceX Falcon 9 does it. In February 2025, they announced plans to update their ship Oceanus. After updates, the ship will be called Return On Investment and will be prepared in Louisiana.

Operations

In February 2022, Rocket Lab said that the Neutron rocket will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the east coast of Virginia. They also announced plans to build a large manufacturing and operations building next to the facility. Construction began in April 2022.

By September 2025, Rocket Lab had finished preparing the launch pad for the Neutron rocket. The first launch is expected no earlier than the last quarter of 2026. The rocket's engine had its test firing at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi.

Development timeline

Past and future development milestones for Neutron.

Applications

The Neutron rocket is built to carry heavy loads into space. It can lift up to 15,000 kg when it doesn't return, 13,000 kg when part of it comes back to Earth far away, and 8,500 kg when the first part returns to the same launch site. Rocket Lab thinks Neutron will be able to launch almost all satellites by 2029.

In May 2025, Rocket Lab got a contract to check if Neutron could work with the USAF Rocket Cargo program to bring supplies back to Earth from anywhere.

Launches

The first flight of the Neutron rocket is planned for late 2026.

Rocket Lab hopes to launch the Neutron rocket three times in 2026 and five times in 2027. In November 2024, they signed an agreement to launch two missions for a satellite network starting in mid-2026 from their launch site on Wallops Island, Virginia. In May 2026, Rocket Lab also signed another agreement for five launches between 2026 and 2029 from sites in New Zealand and Virginia.