Rocket Lab Schedules Launch for U.S. Space Force’s STP-S30 Mission, Brings Launch Forward By Several Months
LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced its next Electron launch will deploy the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) after accelerating the launch of the mission by several months, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s agility in meeting the Department of War’s (DoW) space access demands.
The launch, named ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’, is scheduled to liftoff from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia during a launch window that opens on December 18 at 05:00 UTC/12:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 p.m. Pacific on December 17).
Led by the DoW’s Space Test Program (STP) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), the STP-S30 mission will deploy the first four DiskSats to space: disk-shaped spacecraft platforms developed by The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), managed by the SSC’s System Delta 89 (SYD 89) Capability Development Branch and funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems program, based at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, that offer an alternative approach to small satellites. Electron will deliver these DiskSats to a 550km low Earth orbit where Aerospace will test their maneuverability, launch dispenser mechanism, and orbit-changing capabilities using electric propulsion – key features for flexible, responsive space operations.
Working with RSLP, Rocket Lab was able to accelerate the ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch to tomorrow from its initial target of April 2026, in what will be a demonstration of Rocket Lab’s industry-leading responsive launch service. The launch is also scheduled to take place less than a month after Rocket Lab’s most recent LC-2 launch, which was the first of two missions Rocket Lab recently deployed within 48 hours from two different hemispheres.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ will be Electron’s 20th launch of the year and 78th mission overall.
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch information: https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/next-mission
‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ launch window opens:
- 12:00 a.m. EST, December 18
- 05:00 UTC, December 18
- 9:00 pm PST, December 17
- 6:00 pm NZDT, December 18
Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
About Rocket Lab
About Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is a leading space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket; its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations; and its Neutron launch vehicle in development will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security missions including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange (RKLB). Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
