Rocket Lab Pauses 92nd Launch\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company\u00a0said on X<\/a> that it was \u201cstanding down from today\u2019s launch attempt\u201d for QPS Inc., adding that it has \u201cbackup opportunities for another attempt in the coming days\u201d and would announce a new launch date soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mission, named\u00a0\u201cThe Grain Goddess Provides,\u201d<\/a> is designed to deploy QPS-SAR-13, a synthetic aperture radar satellite, to a 575-kilometer low Earth orbit. The satellite will join QPS\u2019s growing Earth-imaging constellation. The stand down came after Rocket Lab had moved deep into launch-day preparations at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n The QPS mission would mark Rocket Lab\u2019s 13th Electron launch of the year and its 92nd launch overall. Earlier in the evening, the company said that\u00a0Electron was vertical<\/a> on the pad for its 92nd overall launch. It also said liquid oxygen loading was underway and the weather was\u00a070% favorable<\/a> for liftoff. The launch window was scheduled to open at 9:00 p.m. ET on June 30.<\/p>\n The mission had already been pushed once earlier. On Monday, Rocket Lab said that strong winds expected over the launch site had forced it to shift the attempt to July 1 in New Zealand.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab Adds NASA Missions<\/p>\n Rocket Lab recently said that NASA selected the company for three Electron launches tied to two agency missions, PolSIR and TSIS-2. PolSIR will use two CubeSats to study high-altitude ice clouds in tropical and subtropical regions, while TSIS-2 will measure the Sun\u2019s brightness across ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelengths.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s NASA pipeline also includes Aspera, an astrophysics mission focused on galaxy formation and evolution, and Loxsat, an in-space refueling technology mission that could support future exploration on the Moon and Mars.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab\u2019s $8B Iridium Bet<\/p>\n The launch delay comes as investors are also digesting Rocket Lab\u2019s proposed $8 billion acquisition of Iridium Communications, marking a deal that would expand the company beyond launch and spacecraft manufacturing.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium for $54 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction. The deal will combine Rocket Lab\u2019s launch and satellite manufacturing capabilities with Iridium\u2019s global satellite communications network, L-band spectrum and more than 500 partners. Iridium has more than 2.55 million active subscribers across government, defense, aviation, maritime and commercial markets. The deal is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to Iridium shareholder approval and regulatory clearances.<\/p>\n How Do Retail Traders Feel About RKLB?<\/p>\n On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for RKLB was \u2018bullish\u2019 amid \u2018high\u2019 message volume.<\/p>\n One user\u00a0said<\/a>, \u201c$RKLB\u00a0 This isn’t the first launch scrub and it won’t be the last.\u00a0 Payload safety!\u201d<\/p>\n Another user\u00a0said<\/a>, \u201c$RKLB Today reminded me of the launch of Windows 2000. Blue Screen of Death. SPB [CEO Sir Peter Beck] will get to the bottom of it not like Bill \u2018I didn’t build anything\u2019 Gates.\u201d<\/p>\n RKLB stock has jumped 184% over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0ASTS Stock Eyes Comeback After 4-Week Slide: Japan Filing Confirms Rakuten-Led Pick For Nearly $1B Push By SpaceX Rival\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n![\"rklb](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/rklb_ss_png_495be580ca.webp\")
RKLB sentiment and message volume as of June 30| Source: Stocktwits<\/p>\n
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