{"id":41969,"date":"2026-06-08T23:56:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T15:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/?p=41969"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:09:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T05:09:25","slug":"mini-spacex-rocket-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Mini-SpaceX Rocket Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Company_Profile\" >Company Profile<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Founding\" >Founding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Main_Services\" >Main Services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Initial_Public_Offering\" >Initial Public Offering<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Major_Clients\" >Major Clients<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Main_Competitors\" >Main Competitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Operating_Performance\" >Operating Performance<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#2025_Performance\" >2025 Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Overall_performance_is_above_average\" >Overall performance is above average<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#100_Launch_Success_Rate\" >100% Launch Success Rate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Neutron_Launch_Vehicle\" >Neutron Launch Vehicle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Capital_Market_Performance\" >Capital Market Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Valuation\" >Valuation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Investment_Risks\" >Investment Risks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/#Related_articles\" >Related articles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Company_Profile\"><\/span>Company Profile<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Founding\"><\/span>Founding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rocketlabcorp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rocket Lab (ticker: RKLB)<\/a> was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California. Founded in 2006 by New Zealand engineer Peter Beck, it established its headquarters in California in 2013 and has a wholly-owned subsidiary in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Main_Services\"><\/span>Main Services<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab&#8217;s primary business is the development of small rockets and providing commercial rocket launch services. It is a well-known space manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab provides launch services, spacecraft design services, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions; constellation management services; and the design and manufacture of small and medium-sized rockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company also designs, manufactures, and sells Electron, a small orbital launch vehicle for small spacecraft launch services, and develops neutron launch vehicles for large constellation deployments, interplanetary missions, and potential manned spaceflight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Initial_Public_Offering\"><\/span>Initial Public Offering<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange on August 25, 2021, following its merger with Vector Acquisition through a SPAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Clients\"><\/span>Major Clients<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 2020, NASA selected Rocket Lab to launch the CAPSTONE satellite using its Electron rocket and deploy it to lunar orbit aboard the Photon spacecraft platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In January 2024, Rocket Lab became the prime contractor for the US Space Force&#8217;s (USSF) $515 million military satellite program, its largest contract to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In March 2026, Rocket Lab signed a $190 million contract with the US Department of War to conduct a series of hypersonic test flights using its HASTE launch vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On April 22, 2026, the company launched eight satellites into orbit for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)\u2014its second mission specifically for JAXA in recent months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Main_Competitors\"><\/span>Main Competitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab&#8217;s main competitors include Firefly Aerospace (ticker: FLY), SpaceX, and Blue Origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operating_Performance\"><\/span>Operating Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2025_Performance\"><\/span>2025 Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab was not profitable until 2025, but its full-year revenue reached $602 million, a year-over-year increase of 38%. The company reported a net loss per share of $0.09 in the fourth quarter. However, its overall gross margin reached 34.4%. Its order backlog was $1.85 billion, a year-over-year increase of 73%. It remained unprofitable, with negative EBITDA; it expects to become profitable this year, or at worst next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overall_performance_is_above_average\"><\/span>Overall performance is above average<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, the company acquired Geost, LLC, a rapidly growing manufacturer of low-cost, high-performance optical systems founded in 2004. Geost primarily provides optical systems for critical national security space missions and serves a national security space customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab&#8217;s launch services and satellite platform business, particularly the successful maiden launch of its Neutron II medium-lift launch vehicle last year, demonstrates the competitiveness of its commercial launch and satellite system components business. The stock price is expected to perform well from 2025 to early 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"100_Launch_Success_Rate\"><\/span>100% Launch Success Rate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The company operates efficiently, successfully completing 21 launches last year with a 100% success rate. This helped it secure an $816 million contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA). Its space systems business (including satellites and other spacecraft) now accounts for approximately 67% of its revenue. Rocket Lab has positioned itself as a company providing comprehensive space solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Neutron_Launch_Vehicle\"><\/span>Neutron Launch Vehicle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Satellite-related revenue accounts for 85% of the company&#8217;s total revenue, and the company supplies satellite components to SpaceX. Investors should pay close attention to the most important factors: the launch schedule of the Neutron medium-lift launch vehicle, scheduled for release at the end of this year, and the efficiency of large satellite platform contract execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its most significant growth driver is yet to be launched. The upcoming Neutron medium-lift launch vehicle will allow Rocket Lab to directly compete with SpaceX&#8217;s flagship Falcon 9 rocket, at a cost approximately $15 million less per launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Capital_Market_Performance\"><\/span>Capital Market Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Valuation\"><\/span>Valuation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab has a market capitalization of $49 billion and a price-to-sales ratio of 74, with a gross margin of 31.66%. By conventional standards, this represents a premium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Investment_Risks\"><\/span>Investment Risks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Such a high valuation multiple indicates that the company needs near-perfect performance. The upcoming milestone is the launch of the Neutron rocket, a more powerful platform that will more directly challenge SpaceX&#8217;s Falcon 9. Launch is expected later in 2026. Any delays could trigger a sharp drop in the stock price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket Lab&#8217;s valuation also needs careful examination. Over the past 52 weeks, Rocket Lab&#8217;s stock price has fluctuated between $20.23 and $99.58, highlighting the stock&#8217;s inherent volatility. Assuming its operational excellence continues, Rocket Lab has significant growth potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"59\" src=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Rocket_Lab_logo.svg-Custom.png\" alt=\"Rocket Lab\" class=\"wp-image-41970\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_articles\"><\/span>Related articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/06\/08\/mini-spacex-rocket-lab\/\">Mini-SpaceX Rocket Lab<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/blog\/2026\/05\/04\/%e5%8f%b2%e4%b8%8a%e8%a6%8f%e6%a8%a1%e6%9c%80%e5%a4%a7%e7%9a%84spacex%e4%b8%8a%e5%b8%82%e6%a1%88\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/05\/04\/spacex-ipo-largest-history\/\">SpaceX IPO is the largest in history<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2026\/02\/16\/ast-spacemobile-satellite\/\">AST SpaceMobile turning every phone into a satellite phone<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2023\/09\/02\/satellite-calls-smartphones\/\">Smartphones that support satellite calls<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2025\/05\/15\/oligopoly-enterprise\/\">The world&#8217;s most well-known oligopoly companies<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2024\/06\/22\/starlink\/\">How does Starlink, which monopolizes low-orbit satellites, make money?<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2023\/11\/03\/low-orbit-satellites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Low-orbit satellites (LOS) progress, relevant companies<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2024\/04\/14\/ge-spinoff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How did three listed companies make money after GE spinoff? What are the prospects?<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;how%20does%20the%20all-powerful%20huawei%20make%20money\/?%22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How does the all-powerful Huawei make money?<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2022\/10\/29\/boeing-too-big-to-fall\/\">How does Boeing make money? Too big to fall<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2023\/10\/14\/lockheed-martin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How does Lockheed Martin, the king of arms, make money?<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2023\/05\/29\/comacs-c919-flies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comac\u2019s C919 officially flies commercially<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/2024\/02\/12\/how-axon-make-money\/\">How does Axon, which has the global monopoly on police Taser guns, make money?<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Disclaimer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>The content of this site is the author\u2019s personal opinions and is for reference only. I am not responsible for the correctness, opinions, and immediacy of the content and information of the article. Readers must make their own judgments.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>I shall not be liable for any damages or other legal liabilities for the direct or indirect losses caused by the readers&#8217; direct or indirect reliance on and reference to the information on this site, or all the responsibilities arising therefrom, as a result of any investment behavior.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rocket Lab operates efficiently, successfully completing 21 launches last year with a 100% success rate. This helped it secure an $816 million contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[455],"tags":[1609,1616,803],"class_list":["post-41969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space","tag-fly","tag-rklb","tag-spacex"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41969"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42622,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41969\/revisions\/42622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.granitefirm.com\/blog\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}