Rocket Lab on Track to Advance U.S. Defense Capabilities, Passing Major Milestone in Development of Spacecraft Constellation for Space Development Agency
Rocket Lab National Security has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta program. This milestone advances the $515 million contract awarded in early 2024 to deliver 18 advanced data transport satellites for the U.S. Department of Defense's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
The comprehensive PDR covered mission architecture, space vehicle design, launch operations, and ground systems. The satellites will utilize Rocket Lab's vertically integrated subsystems including solar panels, composite structures, star trackers, and other components. The PWSA constellation is designed to provide secure, low-latency communications and missile tracking capabilities in low-Earth orbit.
Rocket Lab National Security ha completato con successo la Revisione di Progetto Preliminare (PDR) per il programma Tranche 2 Layer-Transport della Space Development Agency. Questo traguardo avanza il contratto da 515 milioni di dollari assegnato all'inizio del 2024 per fornire 18 satelliti avanzati per il trasporto di dati per l'Architettura Spaziale dei Combattenti Diffusi (PWSA) del Dipartimento della Difesa degli Stati Uniti.
Il PDR completo ha coperto l'architettura della missione, il design del veicolo spaziale, le operazioni di lancio e i sistemi di terra. I satelliti utilizzeranno i sottosistemi integrati verticalmente di Rocket Lab, inclusi pannelli solari, strutture in composito, tracker stellari e altri componenti. La costellazione PWSA 猫 progettata per fornire comunicazioni sicure e a bassa latenza e capacit脿 di tracciamento missilistico in orbita terrestre bassa.
Rocket Lab National Security ha completado con 茅xito la Revisi贸n de Dise帽o Preliminar (PDR) para el programa Tranche 2 Layer-Transport de la Agencia de Desarrollo Espacial. Este hito avanza el contrato de 515 millones de d贸lares otorgado a principios de 2024 para entregar 18 sat茅lites avanzados de transporte de datos para la Arquitectura Espacial de Combatientes Proliferados (PWSA) del Departamento de Defensa de EE. UU.
El PDR completo abarc贸 la arquitectura de la misi贸n, el dise帽o de veh铆culos espaciales, las operaciones de lanzamiento y los sistemas terrestres. Los sat茅lites utilizar谩n los subsistemas integrados verticalmente de Rocket Lab, incluidos paneles solares, estructuras compuestas, rastreadores estelares y otros componentes. La constelaci贸n PWSA est谩 dise帽ada para proporcionar comunicaciones seguras y de baja latencia, as铆 como capacidades de seguimiento de misiles en 贸rbita terrestre baja.
搿滌紦霝 甑皜鞎堧炒臧 鞖办＜臧滊皽觳潣 韸鸽灉旃 2 靾橃啞 霠堨澊鞏-氩犿儉 頂勲攴鸽灗鞐 雽頃 齑堦赴 靹り硠 瓴韱(PDR)毳 靹标车鞝侅溂搿 鞕勲頄堨姷雼堧嫟. 鞚 鞚挫爼響滊姅 2024雲 齑堨棎 觳搓舶霅 5鞏 1500毵 雼煬 攴滊鞚 瓿勳暯鞚 歆勳爠鞁滌紲 氙 甑癌攵鞚 頇曥偘 鞝勴埇鞗 鞖办＜ 鞎勴偆韰嶌矘(PWSA)毳 鞙勴暅 18臧滌潣 斓滌嫚 雿办澊韯 靾橃啞 鞙勳劚鞚 鞝滉车頃橂姅 氇╉憸毳 臧歆瓿 鞛堨姷雼堧嫟.
韽磩鞝侅澑 PDR鞚 鞛勲 鞎勴偆韰嶌矘, 鞖办＜ 彀焿 靹り硠, 氚滌偓 鞖挫榿 氚 歆靸 鞁滌姢韰滌潉 雼る鞀惦媹雼. 鞚 鞙勳劚霌れ潃 搿滌紦霝╈潣 靾橃 韱淀暕 頃橃渼 鞁滌姢韰滌潉 頇滌毄頃橃棳 韮滌枒甏 韺剱, 氤淀暕 甑“氍, 氤 於旍爜旮 氚 旮绊儉 甑劚 鞖旍唽毳 韽暔頃 瓴冹瀰雼堧嫟. PWSA 氤勳瀽毽姅 鞝歆甑 甓る弰鞐愳劀 鞎堨爠頃橁碃 鞝歆鞐 韱奠嫚 氚 氙胳偓鞚 於旍爜 電ル牓鞚 鞝滉车頃橂弰搿 靹り硠霅橃棃鞀惦媹雼.
Rocket Lab National Security a r茅ussi 脿 compl茅ter la Revue Pr茅liminaire de Conception (PDR) pour le programme Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta de l'Agence de D茅veloppement Spatial. Cette 茅tape important fait avancer le contrat de 515 millions de dollars attribu茅 d茅but 2024 pour fournir 18 satellites avanc茅s de transport de donn茅es pour l'Architecture Spatiale des Combattants Prolif茅r茅s (PWSA) du D茅partement de la D茅fense des 脡tats-Unis.
La PDR compl猫te a couvert l'architecture de la mission, la conception du v茅hicule spatial, les op茅rations de lancement et les syst猫mes au sol. Les satellites utiliseront les sous-syst猫mes int茅gr茅s verticalement de Rocket Lab, notamment des panneaux solaires, des structures composites, des capteurs stellaires et d'autres composants. La constellation PWSA est con莽ue pour fournir des communications s茅curis茅es et 脿 faible latence ainsi que des capacit茅s de suivi des missiles en orbite terrestre basse.
Rocket Lab National Security hat die Vorl盲ufige Entwurfspr眉fung (PDR) f眉r das Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta-Programm der Space Development Agency erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Dieser Meilenstein f枚rdert den 515 Millionen Dollar schweren Vertrag, der Anfang 2024 vergeben wurde, um 18 fortschrittliche Datentransportsatelliten f眉r die proliferierte Kriegsf眉hrung im Weltraumarchitektur (PWSA) des US-Verteidigungsministeriums bereitzustellen.
Die umfassende PDR umfasste die Missionsarchitektur, das Design des Raumfahrzeugs, den Startbetrieb und die Bodensysteme. Die Satelliten werden die vertikal integrierten Systeme von Rocket Lab nutzen, darunter Solarpanels, Verbundstrukturen, Sternenverfolger und andere Komponenten. Das PWSA-Sternenhimmel ist darauf ausgelegt, sichere, latenzarme Kommunikations- und Raketenverfolgungsf盲higkeiten im niedrigen Erdorbit bereitzustellen.
- Secured $515 million firm-fixed-price contract for 18 satellites
- Successfully passed critical Preliminary Design Review milestone
- High vertical integration reducing supply chain risks
- Strong position in U.S. defense market with strategic contract
- None.
Insights
The successful PDR completion for the $515 million SDA contract represents a important advancement in Rocket Lab's defense capabilities portfolio. The T2TL-Beta program's 18 satellites will form a critical component of the PWSA constellation, enhancing military communications and missile tracking capabilities in LEO. The vertical integration strategy employed here is particularly noteworthy - by controlling the manufacturing of key subsystems like solar panels, star trackers and avionics, RKLB significantly reduces supply chain risks and maintains tighter cost controls.
The defense sector's increasing reliance on distributed, resilient space architectures presents a substantial growth vector for RKLB. This contract solidifies their position in the high-value defense market segment, with potential for follow-on orders and expanded scope in future tranches. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract also provides attractive revenue visibility and margins protection against inflation.
This milestone validates RKLB's evolution from a pure launch provider to a full-spectrum space solutions company. The company's ability to secure and execute on major government contracts demonstrates growing competitive advantages in the space systems segment. The vertical integration approach is particularly compelling - it differentiates RKLB from competitors who rely more heavily on third-party suppliers and provides better control over program execution.
For investors, this represents more than just a single contract - it's evidence of RKLB's successful strategic pivot toward higher-margin space systems work. The PDR completion significantly de-risks the program execution timeline. With a $13.4B market cap, RKLB is positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly growing defense space sector, which could drive multiple expansion as the market better appreciates their expanded capabilities beyond launch services.
Artist's concept of Rocket Lab's data transport satellites for SDA's Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta program. Image credit: Rocket Lab
The milestone positions Rocket Lab to move into the detailed design phase of the in early 2024. Under this agreement, Rocket Lab will design, integrate, test, and commission the 18 T2TL-Beta satellites. Rocket Lab leads a capable team of payload providers to provide vital capacity to the PWSA, a cutting-edge low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation designed to provide secure, low-latency communications and missile tracking to the warfighter.
The Preliminary Design Review is a comprehensive multi-day milestone that ensures the satellite design meets rigorous mission requirements and establishes a solid foundation for production, testing, and operations. The review covered the mission architecture, the space vehicle, launch, operations, and ground systems, along with planned integration and test activities, requirements, technology maturity plans, and overall operational concept.
鈥淭his milestone underscores Rocket Lab鈥檚 commitment to delivering world-class satellite solutions for national defense,鈥 said President and CEO of Rocket Lab National Security, Brad Clevenger. 鈥淥ur vertically integrated approach and innovative technologies enable us to meet demanding requirements with precision and efficiency. With this achievement, we are one step closer to deploying advanced satellite systems that will strengthen
All 18 satellites will use Rocket Lab鈥檚 vertically integrated subsystems and components, including solar panels, composite structures, star trackers, reaction wheels, radios, flight & ground software, avionics, launch dispensers, and more. This high degree of vertical integration gives Rocket Lab a unique level of control over its supply chain, enabling efficiencies and certainty on cost, schedule and quality.
+ About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in
+ Forward Looking Statements
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+ Rocket Lab Media Contact
Lindsay McLaurin
media@rocketlabusa.com
Source: Rocket Lab
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