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Rocket Lab announces another delay for its medium-lift Neutron rocket

10/16/2026

Rocket Lab's Neutron launch vehicle will not fly until 2027, the company announced Wednesday. The delay stems from an issue discovered during the manufacturing of the rocket's carbon composite structures.

This public statement confirms a timeline that many within Rocket Lab and the broader space industry had already anticipated.

In August, Rocket Lab suggested it might deliver the first Neutron rocket to its launch pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, before the end of this year.

That schedule would have likely pushed the initial flight into 2027 regardless. The latest update indicates that the company continues to face challenges in manufacturing the rocket's large booster stage.

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