Rocket Lab sees demand for Electron despite rideshare competition

COLORADO SPRINGS – Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck has stated that his firm has identified a thriving market by offering exclusive launches for small satellites. This approach, he explained, does not directly rival SpaceX rideshare missions in the burgeoning space launch sector.

During an interview on April 7, Beck indicated that the clients utilizing Rocket Lab’s Electron rockets differ from those seeking more affordable launch options via SpaceX’s Transporter and Bandwagon Falcon 9 rideshare programs. These dedicated space missions cater to distinct needs within the satellite launch industry.

“Dedicated small satellite launch is a genuine market, and it should not be mistaken for rideshare services,” he asserted. “They are entirely separate offerings.”

He noted that Rocket Lab is experiencing increasing interest in Electron from companies prioritizing command over their mission schedule and orbital parameters — features inherent in a dedicated launch compared to a shared option. Notable clients include Kinéis, the French entity that deployed its constellation of 25 Internet-of-Things satellites across five Electron missions, and Japanese radar mapping firms iQPS and Synspective.

“We have numerous clients who initially utilize a Transporter mission, and subsequently return to book their complete constellation deployment with us,” he added, highlighting the value proposition of dedicated small satellite launches.

The SpaceX Comparison

While some in the small launch vehicle domain have attributed their competitive challenges to SpaceX’s lower pricing, Beck expressed skepticism that these rideshare missions were a primary obstacle to overcome, particularly in the commercial space arena.

“The operational strategy, the service itself, and the technical aspects must all synchronize seamlessly,” he commented. “Observing the entities that have faltered in this sector, it’s abundantly clear that one of these crucial elements was misaligned.”

“Sufficient demand exists” to sustain multiple small launch companies, he suggested, though he remained unconvinced that another vehicle could directly rival Electron, which is capable of deploying payloads weighing up to several hundred kilograms into orbit for space missions.

“Even if a competitor emerges with a price point that is a million dollars less on an $8 million launch cost, would potential clients genuinely jeopardize their entire payload and business on a marginally cheaper, unproven alternative?” he questioned. He pointed to Electron’s extensive history of over 60 successful launches as a key differentiator in the competitive launch market. “It presents a formidable barrier to entry currently.”

Performance ‘No Man’s Land’

This doubt extends to the emerging array of European small launch vehicles, such as Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum, which experienced a failure shortly after liftoff during its maiden flight on March 30. Spectrum and similar vehicles in development are targeting a payload capacity of approximately one ton to orbit, a performance bracket Beck characterized as a “no man’s land”: “It’s insufficiently small to be attractive for rideshare payloads, and excessively large to function as an effective dedicated rocket” for smallsats operating in the modern space industry.

“The sole path to success for these European launchers, in my assessment, hinges on substantial government subsidies,” he concluded, emphasizing the role of public investment in the space sector.

Rocket Lab is also progressing with the development of its larger Neutron rocket, which Beck affirmed remains on schedule for its initial launch before the close of the year. Key forthcoming milestones for Neutron, he detailed, encompass stage testing of the vehicle systems and the establishment of the rocket’s launch facility at Wallops Island, Virginia, further expanding their spaceport capabilities.

Rocket Lab, alongside Stoke Space, was included in Lane 1 of the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contract during March. Beck mentioned that the company will now collaborate closely with the Space Force to refine “all necessary requirements for the vehicle” leading up to Neutron’s first launch. Following this, Neutron will be eligible for task orders under the contract, strengthening Rocket Lab’s position in national security space missions.

He further stated that the firm has gained valuable insights from its Electron program during the Neutron development, as well as the inherent advantage of larger vehicles possessing greater operational flexibility. “Constructing a larger rocket is considerably simpler than building a smaller one,” he summarized, reflecting on the engineering complexities within the space launch industry.

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