LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the arrival of its “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing – a world-first for a commercial rocket – to Virginia for its Neutron rocket. After clearing qualification testing late last year, the Hungry Hippo has been delivered to Wallops Island in Virginia and transported to Rocket Lab’s Neutron Assembly and Integration Comp ...

LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the arrival of its “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing – a world-first for a commercial rocket – to Virginia for its Neutron rocket. After clearing qualification testing late last year, the Hungry Hippo has been delivered to Wallops Island in Virginia and transported to Rocket Lab’s Neutron Assembly and Integration Comp ...

Group 1: Company Developments - Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) has completed qualification testing for its innovative Hungry Hippo fairing system, marking a significant step forward for the Neutron rocket [1][8] - The Hungry Hippo fairing allows Neutron to keep its fairing attached during launch and landing, which supports faster reuse and simpler operations for various missions [2][8] - Neutron is built from carbon composite material and can lift up to 13,000 kilograms, positioning Rocket Lab to compete for larger, higher-value missions [3] Group 2: Launch Timeline and Readiness - Neutron began development in late 2021 and is on track for its first flight in 2026, with major hardware arriving at Launch Complex 3 in Virginia [4][8] - The qualification of the fairing design and structure indicates that Neutron is moving deeper into launch readiness [3][8] Group 3: Market Context and Competitors - The space launch services market is expanding due to technological progress, rising satellite deployment, and increasing commercial space activity, creating opportunities for major players like Boeing and Lockheed Martin [5] - United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has completed over 150 launches and recently introduced the Vulcan rocket for more affordable and flexible launch options [6] Group 4: Financial Performance - RKLB shares have gained 154.7% in the past year, significantly outperforming the industry's growth of 23.9% [7] - The company's forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio is 36.58X, compared to the industry's average of 9.87X, indicating that shares are relatively expensive [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RKLB's losses in 2025 and 2026 has improved by 16.67% and 6.67%, respectively, over the past 60 days [10]

Core Insights - Rocket Lab Corporation has successfully completed qualification testing for its Neutron launch vehicle's innovative "Hungry Hippo" captive fairing, which is now en route to Virginia for the vehicle's first launch [1][3] - The Hungry Hippo fairing design allows the fairing halves to remain attached during launch and landing, marking a world-first for reusable commercial rockets, enhancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness [2][4] - Neutron is positioned to be the world's largest carbon composite launch vehicle, with a lift capacity of up to 13,000 kg (33,000 pounds), and is on track for its first launch in 2026 [3][7] Company Overview - Rocket Lab is a leading space company providing launch services, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components for commercial, government, and national security markets [6] - The company’s Electron rocket is the most frequently launched orbital small rocket, while the Neutron vehicle aims to address bottlenecks in the global space industry by offering reliable and responsive launch services [6][7] Neutron Launch Vehicle Details - Neutron's design incorporates a reusable structure that maximizes launch cadence and payload capacity, utilizing carbon composite materials for major structures [7] - The vehicle is powered by nine Archimedes engines on Stage 1 and one vacuum-optimized Archimedes engine on Stage 2, designed for complex satellite deployments [7] - The qualification program for the Hungry Hippo fairing included extensive testing to validate performance under aerodynamic pressures experienced during launch and re-entry [4][5]