Rocket Lab recently released a flurry of announcements alongside its quarterly earnings report, including updates on its medium-lift Neutron rocket and plans for a new satellite design. The company remains committed to launching the Neutron in the second half of 2025, despite acknowledging that achieving this goal will require near-perfect execution.
“We’ve always been clear that we run aggressive schedules,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO, noting that the official schedule assumes “near-perfect execution” to meet its deadline. However, this timeline raises eyebrows, particularly given the company’s history of delayed launches.
In recent years, Rocket Lab has faced challenges in meeting its ambitious targets, including a 2024 launch that was pushed back. As such, it is unclear whether the Neutron will indeed debut as scheduled or if the timeline will be extended due to unforeseen setbacks.
Meanwhile, Australian startup Gilmour Space Technologies is set to make history with its first test launch on March 15. The company’s Eris rocket has been in development for over a decade and is designed to carry payloads of up to 672 pounds to low-Earth orbit.
On the other side of the globe, Blue Origin conducted its 10th crewed flight of the New Shepard suborbital vehicle, carrying six people, including one unidentified individual. While the identity of this person remains unknown, it marks a significant departure from the company’s typical practice of disclosing all participant information.
As the space industry continues to evolve and grow, these developments highlight the complexities and challenges that come with pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/rocket-report-starship-will-soon-fly-again-gilmour-has-a-launch-date