The complex located at the Center’s A-3 Test Stand will be used
to develop and test the Archimedes reusable engines, fast-tracking
Rocket Lab’s development of the Neutron launch vehicle.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the
Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, today kicked
off operations for testing the Archimedes engine with a ribbon
cutting ceremony at NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center in
Mississippi. The Archimedes Test Complex will be home to engine
testing for the 165,000 lbf engines to be used on Rocket Lab’s
reusable Neutron rocket.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221104005624/en/
Rocket Lab's Vice President of Launch
Systems, Shaun D'Mello, Senator Roger Wicker, Stennis Space Center
Director Dr. Richard Gilbrech, and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
participated in a ribbon cutting to kick off operations at Rocket
Lab's Archimedes Test Complex for the Neutron launch vehicle at
Stennis Space Center. (Photo: Business Wire)
The Archimedes Test Complex is located across a 1 million square
foot area at the Stennis Space Center’s A Test Complex and includes
use and development of existing infrastructure of the A-3 Test
Stand to develop and test Neutron’s Archimedes engines. With the
opening of the Archimedes Test Complex, Rocket Lab will be able to
create dozens of new jobs and make significant capital investments
in the state of Mississippi.
Neutron is Rocket Lab’s reusable rocket in development, designed
as a cost-effective, reliable, and responsive launch service to
help build mega-constellations, deliver large spacecraft to
low-Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and interplanetary
destination. Neutron is also being designed to be human spaceflight
capable in future.
Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says: “It was only a few
weeks ago when we announced Stennis as the location of our
Archimedes Test Complex and we’re already fast at work to get the
site up and running to deliver Neutron. Thanks to our partnership
with NASA and the state of Mississippi, we can begin to develop the
existing infrastructure and test stand at Stennis to fast-track
Neutron’s first launch. We look forward to breathing fire in the
great state of Mississippi.”
Rocket Lab Vice President of Launch Systems, Shaun D’Mello,
says: “It is thrilling to say we’ve reached the next step in the
development of Neutron as we begin operations at the Archimedes
Test Complex at Stennis. We are excited to tap into the workforce
in the area to fast track Neutron’s development.”
The Archimedes Test Complex will complement the
under-construction Neutron Production Complex and launch site at
Wallops Island, within the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Together, the two sites can create hundreds of jobs on over two
million square feet of operations for Neutron’s production,
testing, and launch facilities.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (as per initial press
release):
- The Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves: “When it comes to the
aerospace industry, it’s all systems go in Mississippi. That’s
because our state offers a prime location for innovative research,
well-trained workers, and innovative technology development. Rocket
Lab is a wonderful addition to the impressive range of global
leaders who call NASA’s Stennis Space Center home and I’m excited
to welcome them here.”
- U.S. Senator Roger Wicker: “American leadership in outer space
runs through Mississippi, and it is great to see more companies
partnering with Stennis Space Center as a growing hub of our
nation’s aerospace industry. I appreciate that Rocket Lab is using
Stennis’s 'A-3' test stand, which Congress saved from demolition in
2010. Rocket Lab will bring quality jobs and technology to
Mississippi for years to come.”
- U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith: “The Stennis Space Center has a
special place in American aerospace history, and Mississippi
eagerly welcomes Rocket Lab to use this fantastic test facility to
add to this legacy. Its work will continue Stennis’ key role in
development and testing of the engines that will help usher in a
new generation of achievements in aerospace and space exploration.
I particularly appreciate that the Rocket Lab agreement involves
partnership with NASA, the State of Mississippi, and our wonderful
Gulf Coast.”
- U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo: “I applaud Rocket Lab on their
decision to utilize the unique facilities at Stennis Space Center
to further their space missions,” said Congressman Steven Palazzo.
“South Mississippi has long been a staple in the pathway to space
for both the public and private sectors. Not only the
infrastructure, but the people too, create a receptive environment
for business partnerships. I look forward to Rocket Lab’s future at
Stennis and in space innovation and exploration.”
- Stennis Space Center Director: “We are pleased that Rocket Lab
selected Stennis Space Center for development of its new test
complex,” Stennis Space Center Director Rick Gilbrech said. “With
finalization of this agreement, we look forward to working with
Rocket Lab as it develops and moves forward in achieving its space
goals. This represents an exciting opportunity not only for Stennis
but also for the Gulf Coast region and the entire state of
Mississippi.”
+ Images & Video Content
www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/link-to-rocket-lab-imagery-and-video/
+ FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain certain “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
contained in this release, including statements regarding our
expectations of financial results for the third quarter of 2022,
strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected
costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are
forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to,
“anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,”
“design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,”
“possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,”
“suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar
expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or
phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on
Rocket Lab’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future
developments and their potential effects. These forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which
are beyond Rocket Lab’s control), or other assumptions that may
cause actual results or performance to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially
from the forward-looking statements in this release, including
risks related to the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to
government restrictions and lock-downs in New Zealand and other
countries in which we operate that could delay or suspend our
operations; delays and disruptions in expansion efforts; our
dependence on a limited number of customers; the harsh and
unpredictable environment of space in which our products operate
which could adversely affect our launch vehicle and spacecraft;
increased congestion from the proliferation of low Earth orbit
constellations which could materially increase the risk of
potential collision with space debris or another spacecraft and
limit or impair our launch flexibility and/or access to our own
orbital slots; increased competition in our industry due in part to
rapid technological development and decreasing costs; technological
change in our industry which we may not be able to keep up with or
which may render our services uncompetitive; average selling price
trends; failure of our launch vehicles, spacecraft and components
to operate as intended either due to our error in design in
production or through no fault of our own; launch schedule
disruptions; supply chain disruptions, product delays or failures;
design and engineering flaws; launch failures; natural disasters
and epidemics or pandemics; changes in governmental regulations
including with respect to trade and export restrictions, or in the
status of our regulatory approvals or applications; or other events
that force us to cancel or reschedule launches, including customer
contractual rescheduling and termination rights; risks that
acquisitions may not be completed on the anticipated time frame or
at all or do not achieve the anticipated benefits and results; and
the other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab’s filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including
under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rocket Lab’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was
filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022, and elsewhere (including that
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks
discussed therein). There can be no assurance that the future
developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those that we have
anticipated. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab is not
undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
+ About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and
on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more
affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach,
California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small
orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is
developing the large Neutron launch vehicle. Since its first
orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch
vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket
annually and has delivered 152 satellites to orbit for private and
public sector organizations, enabling operations in national
security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth
observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s
Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA
missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private
commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at
two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital
launch site located in New Zealand and a second launch site in
Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in 2022. To
learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
+ About STENNIS SPACE CENTER
Stennis Space Center, located near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi,
is a federal city operated by NASA since 1961. More than 40 onsite
agencies, organizations, universities, and companies share
operating costs, while pursuing individual missions, as a model of
fiscal efficiency. If their combined workforces of more than 5,000
employees were counted as a single entity, Stennis would rank among
the Top 10 Mississippi companies in size. The size is a major
economic engine for the Gulf Coast region, with an average direct
annual impact of more than $625 million within a 50-mile
radius.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221104005624/en/
+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Mike Atchue
media@rocketlabusa.com
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