A tank failure has delayed Rocket Lab’s planned commercial entry with Neutron, its reusable medium-class rocket, as the company shifts the vehicle’s first launch to 2027.
Rocket Lab had previously aimed for a flight in the final quarter of 2026. The first-stage propellant tank ruptured during a pressure test in January, and the incident added time to later production and validation work.
The setback centers on carbon-fiber composite parts used in the tank. The remaining work includes further design refinements and adjustments to production of those composite components.
Rocket Lab is developing Neutron as a reusable medium-class rocket for large satellite-launch contracts. The vehicle is intended to compete in a segment where SpaceX is also active, so the schedule change puts off the company’s planned entry into that market.
The later debut also delays when Neutron can begin serving commercial demand. The next work is refining the tank and changing how its parts are made.
