Rocket Lab Delays Neutron’s First Launch to 2027 After Tank Setback

Rocket Lab has shifted Neutron’s first launch target from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027 after manufacturing trouble hit its first-stage tank, pushing back its planned entry into medium-lift launches. The setback centers on carbon-fiber composite components used in the first-stage propellant tank. Rocket Lab still needs to refine the tank’s design and adjust how those components are made. Neutron’s first-stage tank ruptured during a pressure test in January. That failure lengthened later manufacturing and validation work. The revised timing follows an earlier goal of flying by the end of 2026.

Source: TokenPost