Rocket Lab NASDAQ:RKLB shares climbed nearly 5% on Monday after the company secured a $266 million launch contract from the U.S. Space Force, its largest launch award to date.
The Rocket Lab agreement was awarded under the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command's Rocket Systems Launch Program. It covers 12 suborbital launch missions and includes an option for up to six additional launches. Rocket Lab said the first mission is scheduled for no earlier than late 2026.
Rocket Lab expects most of the launches to take place from its new launch site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. The facility will complement Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and Launch Complexes 2 and 3 in Virginia, expanding the company's launch capacity.
The latest contract adds to Rocket Lab's growing portfolio of government launch work and further strengthens its role in U.S. national security space missions.