Rocket Lab Electron Rocket

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket lifts-off from LC-2 in Wallops Virginia for NRO mission. Credit: Austin Adams, courtesy of Rocket Lab

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA - Rocket Lab has announced a new $14.49 million task order award from the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to launch another Electron rocket from Virginia’s Eastern Shore. 

Rocket Lab says the USSF awarded them the mission to launch the Electron rocket from Launch Complex 2, a pad dedicated to Electron rockets at Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, on April 8th.

The mission, according to Rocket Lab, falls under the Space Systems Command Assured Access to Space organization and has been named Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30).

Though a launch date or window was not specified, Rocket Lab says the launch is scheduled to take place within two years of this week’s contract award. 

STP-S30 is intended to deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the Department of Defense. The rocket’s primary payload, DISKSat, will also maintain a very low earth orbit flight and test a a 1-meter disk shaped satellite, according to Rocket Lab.

This will be Rocket Lab’s third mission for the U.S. Space Force, the company says. In March, Rocket Lab successfully launched a 59 ft tall Electron rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County. 

"Flexible, responsive, and reliable launch is critical to ensuring resilient space capabilities for the nation and we’re proud to deliver it to the Space Force once again with Electron,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck.

Digital Content Producer

Sean joined WBOC as Digital Content Producer in February 2023. Originally from New Jersey, Sean graduated from Rutgers University with bachelor’s degrees in East Asian Studies and Religion. He has lived in New York, California, and Virginia before he and his wife finally found a place to permanently call home in Maryland. With family in Laurel, Ocean Pines, Berlin, and Captain’s Cove, Sean has deep ties to the Eastern Shore and is thrilled to be working at WBOC serving the community.

Recommended for you