Rocket Lab pushes Neutron debut to 2027 after manufacturing problems
Rocket Lab says air pockets in a carbon fibre propellant dome have pushed Neutron's first launch into 2027.
Rocket Lab has delayed the first launch of its Neutron rocket into 2027. CEO Peter Beck disclosed the move in an investor update, saying the company is not yet setting a new timeframe.
Beck said the company found air pockets between layers of carbon fibre in the propellant dome, made on an automated fibre placement machine. Rocket Lab has since mitigated the issue with manufacturing fixes for a new forward dome, which is already being built. The time spent on the problem pushes the launch to next year.
The issue traces back to a tank that ruptured in testing in January. That rupture exposed a manufacturing defect in a tank handlaid by a contractor, and Rocket Lab then moved production to the automated machine. At the time it shifted the debut from early 2026 to late 2026, on top of earlier delays.
Sourcesatellitetoday.com