Rocket Lab Set for Conditional $150 Million Pentagon Loan for Neutron

The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital is providing Rocket Lab a conditional $150 million loan to help increase the launch cadence of Neutron, the company’s reusable rocket, according to reporting by Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Key details

• The loan is conditional and totals $150 million.
• Rocket Lab plans to use the financing to increase Neutron’s launch cadence.
• Neutron’s first flight is planned for the year after the publication of the cited report; the report’s publication date is not established here.

The conditional loan totals $150 million.

Why it matters

A higher launch cadence would mean Rocket Lab plans to fly Neutron more often. The loan links federal financing with the company’s plans for its reusable launch vehicle.