Rocket Lab USA launches first US mission for NRO from Wallops
California-based Rocket Lab USA successfully launched a mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on Thursday from Launch Complex 2 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County, the aerospace company announced. The Eastern Shore mission, dubbed “Live and Let Fly,” was Rocket Lab’s first launch from U.S. soil for the NRO, which builds, designs, […]
Rocket Lab, Leidos sign contract for 4 rocket launches
California-based Rocket Lab USA has signed a contract with Reston-based Fortune 500 contractor Leidos to launch four Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) missions, the launch company announced Tuesday. The suborbital testbed launch vehicle missions will lift off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at NASA‘s Wallops Fligh[...]
Rocket Lab to launch new hypersonic rocket from Va.
California-based Rocket Lab USA Inc. will launch its new Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) rocket in Accomack County in the first half of 2023. The company introduced the suborbital testbed launch vehicle, derived from its Electron rocket, on Monday. Rocket Lab is preparing the HASTE vehicle for launch for a confidential customer at its […]
Rocket Lab announces December Va. launch window
Rocket Lab USA Inc. will launch the first U.S. mission for its Electron rocket from a launch pad on NASA‘s Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County during a 13-day window that opens Dec. 7. The company announced the Wallops launch Thursday. The mission, called “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy satellites for Herndon-based HawkEye […]
Rocket Lab USA picks Va. for rocket launch site and manufacturing facility
Rocket Lab USA Inc. has selected Wallops Island as the location for its launch site and a new manufacturing and assembly complex for its new Neutron rocket, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The move is expected to create as many as 250 jobs. Rocket Lab will launch Neutron from a new launch pad owned by […]
Calif. aerospace company proposes Accomack County facility
Accomack County is a finalist for a proposed Rocket Lab USA Inc. facility, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. If the county is selected, Long Beach, California-based aerospace company Rocket Lab would develop a facility to support part production, assembly, integration and test operations to support the launch of its Neutron launch vehicle from the NASA […]
Northrop Grumman will make two missions to International Space Station in 2023
NASA awarded two missions to Falls Church-based Fortune 100 defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. for 2023 launches that will deliver a combined total of approximately 16,500 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station. “As a trusted and reliable partner to NASA, Northrop Grumman has played a critical role in keeping the International Space Station […]
Virginia Space launches rocket for first U.S. Space Force mission
The Minotaur IV rocket, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), launched its first U.S. Space Force (USSF) mission from the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority’s (Virginia Space) Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA‘s Wallops Flight Facility in Eastern Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. “The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport [...]