Rocket Lab Climbs Despite Neutron Delay

Rocket Lab shares rose 2% on early Wednesday, 9 September. Investors evaluated ongoing progress on the Neutron rocket alongside continued uncertainty over the exact date of its first flight.

The company expects to move the first Neutron vehicle to the launch pad during the fourth quarter. It has not set a specific launch date, as the debut depends on testing and qualification work. A pressure-test failure on the first-stage tank earlier this year had already pushed the expected debut from mid-2026 toward the end of the year, with a potential slip into 2027.

Existing operations showed solid growth. Second-quarter revenue rose 62% from a year earlier to a record $234 million. Management projects third-quarter revenue between $250 million and $265 million.

Rocket Lab closed June with about $2.4 billion in cash and marketable securities. That balance followed roughly $1.5 billion raised through stock sales during the first half of the year, providing liquidity to fund Neutron development.