The Company
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. is a publicly traded aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider. The company specializes in delivering reliable launch services, spacecraft, satellite components, and on-orbit management solutions. Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab has established itself as a key player in the small satellite launch industry, offering end-to-end space solutions.
Financials
As of February 21, 2025, Rocket Lab’s stock price stands at $23.54, with a market capitalization of $10.6 billion and 500 million shares outstanding. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported a 55% increase in revenue, reaching $104.81 million, and reduced its net loss to $51.94 million.
TAM / CAGR
The global space launch services market was valued at $12.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $46.1 billion by 2033, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.9% from 2024 to 2033. Within this sector, the small satellite market is estimated at $5.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $11.2 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 16.6% during the same period.
Products
Rocket Lab offers a diverse range of products and services. Below is a breakdown of their offerings and the estimated percentage of revenue each contributes:
| Product/Service | Revenue Contribution (%) |
|---|---|
| Launch Services (Electron Rocket) | 60% |
| Space Systems (Photon Satellite Bus) | 20% |
| Satellite Components | 15% |
| Engineering and Design Services | 5% |
Customers
Rocket Lab serves a wide array of customers, including commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and research institutions. Notable clients include NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and various commercial satellite constellation operators. The company’s services support missions ranging from Earth observation and communications to scientific research and defense applications.
Competitors
In the competitive landscape of small satellite launch services, Rocket Lab’s primary competitors include:
- SpaceX: Offers the Falcon 9 rocket, capable of deploying small satellites through dedicated and rideshare missions.
- Arianespace: Provides launch services with the Vega rocket, designed for small to medium payloads.
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Operates the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has a history of launching small satellites into various orbits.
Main Investors
As a publicly traded company, Rocket Lab’s ownership is distributed among various institutional and individual investors. Specific details about the largest shareholders and their percentage holdings are not publicly disclosed.
Founding History
Rocket Lab was founded in 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand, by engineer Peter Beck. The company’s inaugural launch of the Ātea-1 suborbital sounding rocket in 2009 marked the first privately developed and launched rocket in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2013, Rocket Lab established its headquarters in California, USA, to expand its operations and better serve the burgeoning commercial space market. Since then, the company has achieved numerous milestones, including the development of the Electron rocket, successful orbital launches, and the introduction of the Photon satellite platform.
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