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Neutron's first launch slips to 2027

The A-3 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center, where Rocket Lab tests Neutron's Archimedes engine — Photo: NASA

Rocket Lab found small air pockets in the forward dome of Neutron's first-stage tank and is building a replacement. Testing should wrap up in the first quarter of 2027, and a new launch target will follow.

This week's news

Weekly News · Issue 10Neutron's first launch slips to 2027 Oct 18, 2026

Previous News Reports

9 issues · scroll

#9 SpaceX makes its move to become a mobile carrier Oct 11 #8 Starship reaches orbit for the first time Oct 4 #7 Starship is stacked for its first try at orbit Sep 27 #6 The US says for the first time that it has weapons in orbit Sep 20 #5 Stoke Space raises $1 billion and shows a bigger rocket Sep 13 #4 NASA hands Blue Origin a $700 million Mars communications network Sep 6

#3 Torrance lands the big contract Aug 30

#2 SpaceX tows an intact Starship across the Indian Ocean after 24 days adrift Aug 23 #1 Astranis unveils a satellite built to watch other satellites in geostationary orbit Aug 16