What Happened
Dedicated Mission Expands Kepler Constellation Capabilities
Rocket Lab has been selected to launch a dedicated Neutron mission for Kepler Communications, expanding Kepler’s constellation with additional optical connectivity and hosted payload capacity. The mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028 from Wallops Island, Virginia, marks Kepler’s first dedicated launch on a commercial vehicle, providing greater control over launch schedule and orbital parameters. This latest contract demonstrates Neutron’s growing manifest and competitive position in medium-lift launch globally, as reported by Unknown Source.