Rocket Lab Neutron

An earlier design of Neutron (March 2021), included a rocket {{cvt|40|m}} tall with a {{cvt|4.5|m}}-diameter payload fairing. Rocket Lab stated that they intended for the first stage of the vehicle to be reusable, with landings planned on a floating landing platform downrange in the Atlantic Ocean called Return On Investment. During the company's earnings call in February 2025, a plan to modify the offshore barge were unveiled.{{Cite web |last=published |first=Tariq Malik |date=2025-03-09 |title=Rocket Lab unveils plan to land Neutron rockets at sea, 1st launch in 2025 |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/rocket-lab-unveils-plan-to-land-neutron-rockets-at-sea-1st-launch-in-2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

On 2 December 2021, Rocket Lab unveiled a revised design for Neutron, featuring a tapered shape with a maximum diameter of {{cvt|7|m}}. Rocket Lab abandoned opts for a return-to-launch-site reusability profile and on a floating platform called Return On Investment. Instead of a conventional payload fairing that is jettisoned and recovered at sea, the fairing is integrated into the vehicle, and opens during stage separation to release the second stage and payload, and then closes before the first stage lands back on earth. The rocket features a unique interstage design where the second stage is "hung" from the first stage structure.{{cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/02/rocket-lab-reusable-neutron-rocket-update-competing-with-spacex.html |title=Rocket Lab gives first look at plans for bigger, reusable Neutron rocket as it takes on SpaceX |work=CNBC |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021}}

On 22 September 2022, another revised design was unveiled at an investor day, with the first stage engine count increased from seven to nine, and the engine architecture changed from gas-generator to oxygen rich staged combustion. This was done primarily to allow for a lower turbine temperature, while maintaining the same specific impulse. The engine will run with a significantly lower chamber pressure than other similar engines, at the cost of some performance. The number of fairing segments was reduced from four to two.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6FW3WQu0w0&t=4293 | title=Rocket Lab 2022 Investor Day & Neutron Update | website=YouTube | date=22 September 2022 }}

On 27 July 2023, new concept art on the Rocket Lab website showed a further revised design, with a reduction in the number of payload fairing sections from 4 to 2, redesigned landing legs, and small changes to the overall shape of the rocket. The number of payload fairing sections was reduced in order to allow for simpler fairing opening mechanisms while the landing legs were redesigned in order to be optimized for landings on floating platforms, allowing for an increase in launch availability. The redesigned legs feature a folding mechanism similar to the SpaceX Falcon 9 landing legs.{{Cite web |last=Angle |first=Richard |date=2023-07-27 |title=Rocket Lab's Neutron undergoes design change |url=https://www.teslarati.com/rocket-labs-neutron-undergoes-design-change/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=TESLARATI |language=en-US}}[https://s28.q4cdn.com/737637457/files/doc_financials/2023/q2/Rocket-Lab-Q2-2023-presentation_Final.pdf Rocket Lab Q2 2023 presentation], Investors.rocketlabusa.com, Retrieved 23 Oct 2023.

On 28 February 2022, Rocket Lab announced that Neutron will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) within NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the eastern coast of Virginia.[https://www.wmdt.com/2022/02/rocket-lab-selects-virginias-eastern-shore-for-rocket-launch-site/ Rocket Lab selects Virginia's Eastern Shore for rocket launch site.] It was also announced that the company will build a 250,000 square feet manufacturing and operations facility adjacent to the Wallops Flight Facility. Ground was broken for this facility on 11 April 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Rocket Lab Breaks Ground on Neutron Production Complex in Wallops, Virginia |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220411005857/en/Rocket-Lab-Breaks-Ground-on-Neutron-Production-Complex-in-Wallops-Virginia |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}} {{As of|2021|12}}, Rocket Lab is planning for the first launch to take place no earlier than July 2025. Test firing of Neutron's Archimedes engine occurred at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi.{{cite web |publisher=Area Development |date=September 24, 2022 |title= Rocket Lab Plans Hancock County, Mississippi, Engine Test Complex |url=https://www.areadevelopment.com/newsitems/9-24-2022/rocket-lab-stennis-space-center-hancock-county-mississippi.shtml}}

Past and future development milestones for Neutron.{{Cite web |title=Neutron |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/launch/neutron/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Rocket Lab |language=en}}

Neutron is designed to lift up to {{cvt|15000|kg|sigfig=3}} while expended, {{cvt|13000|kg|sigfig=3}} while landing the booster downrange and up to {{cvt|8500|kg|sigfig=3}} with the first stage returning to the launch site.{{cite web |title=Payload User's Guide |url=https://rocketlabcorp.com/assets/Uploads/Rocket-Lab-Neutron-PUG-Reduced.pdf |access-date=12 February 2025 |publisher=Rocket Lab}} Rocket Lab forecasts Neutron will be able to launch 98% of all payloads launched through 2029. Rocket Lab also intends the design to be able to support constellation deployment, deep space missions, and eventually human spaceflight.

The first flight of Neutron is expected to be in the second half of 2025.{{Cite web |last=published |first=Tariq Malik |date=2025-03-09 |title=Rocket Lab unveils plan to land Neutron rockets at sea, 1st launch in 2025 |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/rocket-lab-unveils-plan-to-land-neutron-rockets-at-sea-1st-launch-in-2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

According to Rocket Lab, Neutron’s expected debut launch in 2025 also puts the launch vehicle in a strong position to on-ramp onto the U.S. Government’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Lane 1 program, an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at $5.6 billion over a five-year period. RFPs for the program opened on 30 October 2024 with approved new launch vehicles to be on-ramped to the program in Spring 2025.

In November 2024 Rocket Lab announced that it has signed a multi-launch agreement with a confidential commercial satellite constellation operator to launch satellite constellation using Neutron. Under the contract, Rocket Lab will launch two dedicated missions on Neutron starting from mid-2026. The missions will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch service agreement for these missions signifies the beginning of a productive collaboration that could see Neutron deploy the entire constellation.{{Cite web |title=Rocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Contract for Neutron with Confidential Commercial Satellite Constellation Operator |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/updates/rocket-lab-signs-multi-launch-contract-for-neutron-with-confidential-commercial-satellite-constellation-operator/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Rocket Lab |language=en}}

{{Reflist|2|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/launch/neutron/ |title=Neutron |work=Rocket Lab |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021}}

{{cite news|title=Rocket Lab to go public through SPAC merger and develop medium-lift rocket|url=https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-go-public-through-spac-merger-and-develop-medium-lift-rocket/|work=SpaceNews|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=1 March 2021|access-date=1 March 2021}}

{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-says-spac-deal-will-accelerate-development-of-neutron-rocket/ |title=Rocket Lab says SPAC deal will accelerate development of Neutron rocket |work=SpaceNews |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=4 March 2021}}

{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210301005406/en/Rocket-Lab-Unveils-Plans-for-New-8-Ton-Class-Reusable-Rocket-for-Mega-Constellation-Deployment|title=Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket for Mega-Constellation Deployment|publisher=Business Wire|date=1 March 2021|access-date=1 March 2021}}

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kwAPr5G6WA Neutron update on YouTube (2 December 2021)]

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{{Rocket Lab}}

Neutron

Category:Reusable launch systems

Category:Partially reusable space launch vehicles