Rocket Lab Wins $90M U.S. Space Force GEO Satellite Contract
RKLB•On May 21, Rocket Lab secured a $90 million U.S. Space Force contract to design and deliver two geostationary satellites hosting Heimdall space domain awareness payloads, its first GEO production program. The award underpins a contracted backlog up 108% year-over-year to $2.2 billion as Q1 revenue rose 63.5% to $200.3 million.
1. $90 Million U.S. Space Force Satellite Award
On May 21, Rocket Lab was awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate and operate two geostationary satellites carrying the Heimdall space domain awareness payload. This marks the company’s inaugural satellite production program for geostationary orbit, leveraging technology acquired from GEOST in 2025 and integrated into Rocket Lab Optical Systems.
2. Backlog Soars and Revenue Gains
The contract contributes to a record contracted backlog of $2.2 billion, a 108% increase year-over-year. In Q1 2026 Rocket Lab reported revenue of $200.3 million, up 63.5% year-over-year, driven by launch services and emerging satellite production work.
3. Hypersonic and Launch Block Orders
In addition to its satellite award, Rocket Lab booked a $190 million block order for 20 HASTE hypersonic test flights from the U.S. Department of War and a separate $30 million HASTE contract from defense tech firm Anduril, reinforcing its diversified government revenue streams.
