New timeline for Wallops Neutron Rocket launch-

 

                                                                                            Rocket Lab Neutron rendering

" the new timeline has the company bringing Neutron to Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the first quarter of next year."

View news story:

Neutron rocket’s debut slips into mid-2026 as company seeks success from the start - Ars Technica

NEUTRON'S Wallops Pad is complete!

      (WAVY-TV)

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Launch Complex 3, home for Rocket Lab’s newest reusable rocket, Neutron, is now complete and celebrated its official opening Thursday.

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Rocket Lab’s Neutron launch pad now complete at Wallops Island | WAVY.com

Article recaps Rocket Lab's launch status at Wallops-

(yahoo/finance)

    Neutron production complex

(View news article:)

Rocket Lab’s first hurdle to flying its new rocket is getting it to the pad

Wallops slated for 2026 Department of Defense mission-

(View Shore Daily News story:)

DOD mission set to launch from Wallops Island - Shore Daily News

Wallops a key player in big news from Rocket Lab.

(Highlights edits)
Long Beach, Calif. March 27, 2025: Rocket Lab USA, Inc. a global leader in launch services and space systems, has today been selected by the U.S. Space Force to compete for the Department of Defense’s highest-priority national security missions for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) 

 Neutron’s debut launch from Launch Complex 3 in Wallops Island, Virginia, will be the first launch vehicle to support the NSSL program from the region.

(View full Rocket Lab announcement:)

Rocket Lab’s Neutron Rocket On-Ramped to U.S. Space Force’s $5.6b National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program | Rocket Lab

And more good news for Wallops-

 

                 

...Rocket Lab executives said they were making good progress on Neutron, a medium-lift reusable launch vehicle, and its launch site at Wallops Island, Virginia, with a first launch expected in the second half of the year.

(View news story:)

Rocket Lab reaffirms 2025 first launch of Neutron - SpaceNews

Wallops benefits with NASA contract to Rocket Lab.

 

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Rocket Lab selected by NASA to provide Neutron Launch services under VADR launch contract - Shore Daily News

Delayed target date for Rocket Lab's Neutron vehicle launch-

 

"Rocket Lab is making progress in other aspects of Neutron, building composite structures for parts of the rocket as well as elements of the vehicle’s launch site, Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island, Virginia."

(View full news article:)

Rocket Lab pushes back Neutron debut to 2025 - SpaceNews

SUCCESS: First National Security Mission launch from Wallops.

 (Shore Daily News)

                                                               Brady Kenniston photo

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Rocket Lab's first NRO launch from Wallops successful - Shore Daily News

Rocket Lab pushing for first Neutron launch in 2024

 (spacenews.com)

... outlined the progress the company was making on various components of Neutron, such as avionics and structures, as well as construction of Neutron’s launch pad, Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia.

(View news story:)

Rocket Lab pushing for first Neutron launch in 2024 - SpaceNews

Rocket Lab announces next launch from Wallops

 

Rocket Lab to Launch NRO Mission from Wallops, Virginia

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s first NRO launch from Wallops, Virginia, following four previous successful launches for the agency from New Zealand.

(View press release:)

Rocket Lab to Launch NRO Mission from Wallops, Virginia | Business Wire

Encouraging financial news from Rocket Lab

 (UPDATE- Shore Daily News reports Rocket Lab has signed a new launch services agreement that will entail a 2024 launch from Wallops.) 

Rocket Lab results match Wall Street estimates, company adds contracts for 10 launches

(View news story:)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) Q2 earnings report (cnbc.com)

(With Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 located at the NASA Flight Facility at Wallops, it's news the lower Eastern Shore likes to hear.)

Mission success for Walllops launch

 (Shore Daily News)

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Hush-hush mission a success - Shore Daily News

Few details available on upcoming Wallops launch

 

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Rocket Lab's 'mystery launch' stirs interest - Shore Daily News

Rocket Lab shifts two launches from Wallops to New Zealand

 

WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab has shifted a pair of Electron launches of NASA storm-monitoring cubesats from Virginia to New Zealand, avoiding a potential conflict with another launch.

(View news story:)

Rocket Lab shifts NASA cubesat launches from Virginia to New Zealand - SpaceNews

(UPDATED) Wallops Thursday launch

View more pictures:

https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/gallery-rocketlabs-launch-of-the-capella-satellites/

(Shore Daily News)

Thursday evening launch from Wallops

Rocket Lab successfully launched two Capella satellites from the Wallops Flight Facility.   The Electron headed to the heavens at 6:38 and orbit for the satellites was established approximately 10 minutes later.  The mission was named “Stronger Together”.

The launch was a dedicated mission for Capella Space, a leading U.S. satellite manufacturer and Earth observation company. “Stronger Together” delivered to orbit two more Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites that enable Capella Space to deliver the highest quality, highest resolution SAR imagery commercially available with the fastest order-to delivery time, empowering organizations across the public and private sector to make informed, accurate decisions

This is the second successful launch for Rocket Lab from the Wallops  Flight Facility.

(UPDATED) Wednesday launch?

NOT WEDNESDAY

MAYBE THURSDAY

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NASA Wallops Rocket Lab launch now set for Thursday | WAVY.com

 

(original posting)

     (Shore Daily News)

Rocket Lab announced Monday that they are set for a second attempt to launch the second Electron rocket from the Wallops  Flight Facility.  The launch window is set for 6 until 8 pm Wednesday night.

However the winds will still be with us Wednesday.  The forecast calls for sunny skies but  ]surface winds from the northwest gusting to 30 mph.  It remains to be seen if the upper level winds will lay down in time for the launch Wednesday.

The “Stronger Together” mission will be deploying Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites for Capella Space, allowing the San Francisco-based company to expand its SAR capabilities.

No go for Saturday launch from Wallops

 

(Shore Daily News)

Windy weather resulted in the postponement of the scheduled Electron launch by Rocket Lab at the Wallops Flight Facility.   Strong winds both at ground level and aloft resulted in the postponement.  Rocket Lab tweeted that there will be other windows of opportunity to get the launch off in the next week and they will be announcing the new launch attempt time shortly.

Saturday weather for Wallops launch

The second Rocket Lab Electron rocket launch from Wallops is scheduled for Saturday. Will weather conditions permit?  

National Weather Service Saturday forecast for the Wallops area (updated 3/11, 5a.m.):

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

 (View launch news story:)

Rocket Lab to launch Capella Space Project Saturday - Shore Daily News

Success for first Rocket Lab launch from Wallops

 (WBOC)

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NASA Successfully Launches Rocket From Wallops Island | Latest News | wboc.com