Rocket Lab’s Neutron tapped for U.S. military cargo test

The mission, slated for no earlier than 2026, will fall under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) “rocket cargo” program, which explores how commercial launch vehicles might one day deliver materiel to any point on Earth within hours—a vision akin to airlift logistics via spaceflight.

Rocket Lab announced the award May 8. The contract’s value was not disclosed.

The company’s founder and CEO Peter Beck, speaking during a first-quarter earnings call, described the Air Force initiative as still in its infancy. “That program is really at the very beginning of its development within the U.S. government,” Beck said. “So I think we’re very much in the experimental phase. And it’ll be interesting to see if that turns into a full requirement for an operational capability.”

Beck added that it’s “good to be on that program, working on it early.”

The cargo test would be a “survivability experiment.” Neutron is expected to carry a payload that will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, demonstrating the rocket’s ability to safely transport and deploy cargo. Beck noted that the launch will be a “multi-manifest” mission, carrying multiple payloads.