JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

Rocket Lab Wins NASA Contract for Three Electron Launches

June 25, 2026

1 min read

Key Takeaways

Rocket Lab wins NASA award for three Electron launches.
PolSIR and TSIS-2 missions to launch in 2027.
Electron rockets to launch from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1.
Awards made under NASA's VADR contract vehicle.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

This selection may indicate NASA's confidence in Rocket Lab's Electron rocket for small satellite launches. The awards could suggest a shift towards smaller, more agile launch vehicles for science missions, which may benefit Rocket Lab and other small launch providers.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

NASA Selects Rocket Lab for PolSIR and TSIS-2 Science Missions

NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch two science missions, PolSIR and TSIS-2, on three Electron rockets in 2027. The PolSIR mission consists of two 16U cubesats that will measure ice crystals in tropical clouds, while TSIS-2 will measure solar energy entering Earth’s atmosphere. The awards were made under NASA’s VADR contract vehicle, with Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket chosen for its reliability and precise orbital accuracy. This development was first reported by SpaceNews.

Source | Originally Published: June 25, 2026

Companies Mentioned