Rocket Lab’s (NASDAQ: RKLB) Q2 results are out, and the corporate is looking good following a positive quarter.
The corporate had 100% mission success with three launches in Q2, including a brand new type, the suborbital HASTE Electron variant.
While the stock market may not react immediately, Rocket Lab is ready for a robust third quarter. The corporate has signed ten recent launches, including 9 Electron launches and 1 HASTE launch. The launches come from returning customers, Black Sky Inc. with 5, Synspective with 2, 1 unconfirmed customer, and one government customer. The HASTE launch can be from an unknown customer.
As for Electron’s future reusability prospects, the corporate is planning on flying the primary flight-proven engine on an Electron launch later this yr and the primary full booster re-flight in 2024. Essentially the most recent Electron that was recovered showed positive ends in recent waterproofing methods and was recovered from the ocean using a brand new hoisting method, expediting the method.
Founder and CEO Peter Beck also provided recent information regarding Neutron, the corporate’s recent medium-lift rocket currently within the design and testing phases.
As we reported not too way back, the Neutron design has been barely modified, Beck mentioned they made the changes a couple of months ago based on customer feedback and thru their testing evaluation program. The landing legs at the moment are optimized for barge landings, and the fairing section is being modified from 4 segments to 2 to permit for easier mechanisms.
The corporate has accomplished the stage 2 carbon composite qualification tank, with testing expected to start in Q3, and accomplished the cryogenic tank test stand. The corporate has begun the Earthworks for Launch Complex 3 and is grading the launch pad area ahead of construction.
![](https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screenshot-2023-08-09-123239.jpg)
The carbon composite 2nd stage for Neutron (Credit Rocket Lab)
The engine that can power Neutron, the liquid methane and liquid oxygen-fueled Archimedes engine, has had its first full-scale thrust chamber accomplished using additive manufacturing. Pre-burner tests have been successful so far and proceed in association with Purdue University. Teams are also conducting simulations with the avionics hardware.
Coming up in Q3, the corporate looks to start the test campaign for Archimedes, have the Stage 1 qualification infrastructure accomplished, and the Stage 2 structural and cryogenic test campaign.
The corporate also acquired the previous Virgin Orbit headquarters and production facility in Long Beach, California. The production site is 144,000 square feet and was acquired for $16.1 million following the Virgin Orbit bankruptcy sale. The corporate will produce each Electron and Neutron rockets at the ability.
Qualification testing is now underway on their twin Mars spacecraft. The ESCAPADE mission will study Mars’ magnetosphere and is due for launch in late 2024 on a Blue Origin Recent Glenn rocket. The spacecraft relies on the corporate’s Photon satellite.