Rocket Lab Lifts Off in Virginia

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. delivers reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites, and other spacecraft, as well as on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space.

In 2021, the company unveiled its planned Neutron rocket, which is anticipated to be able to carry a 17,600-lb. payload to low Earth orbit in a reusable configuration. Soon after, the search began for a new rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket. 

Virginia Answers the Call

Virginia offered a prime position on the East Coast, a thriving industrial ecosystem, and a highly skilled aerospace and unmanned systems workforce. In addition, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is one of only five sites in the U.S. with an FAA spaceport license for missions to Earth orbit or on interplanetary trajectories and offers full-service commercial launch and drone testing facilities. Ultimately beating out both Florida and Texas, Virginia proved itself to be the ideal location.

An Out-of-This-World Legacy in Aerospace

Virginia’ Eastern Shore is home to NASA Wallops Flight Facility, one of the oldest launch sites in the world — the first rocket launched from the site, the Tiamat, was launched in 1945. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located within the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, provides full-service launch facilities and offers a significant competitive advantage for commercial, government, scientific, and academic users both foreign and domestic, both manned and unmanned.

The advantageous geography, research sites, and proximity to the federal government have all attracted aerospace investment, with companies benefitting from an active and experienced aerospace workforce with a strong talent pipeline.

In 2019, Rocket Lab officially opened Launch Complex 2 at MARS on Wallops Island, the company’s first launch site in the United States. Through this project, Rocket Labs witnessed firsthand the region’s advantages and Wallops Island’s unique capability to support their ambitious goals. 

Virginia is home to an active and experienced aerospace workforce we can pull from to support Neutron’s development and launch. I’m thankful for the Commonwealth’s enthusiasm and backing of Neutron which, combined with the state’s rich heritage as an aerospace state, made it difficult to see anywhere else but Virginia as Neutron’s future home.

Peter Beck, Founder and CEO, Rocket Lab USA

A Smooth Landing

In February 2022, Rocket Lab announced Wallops Island as the location for its launch site and manufacturing and operations complex for the Neutron rocket, creating up to 250 new jobs.

The state-of-the-art complex will be constructed adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the launch pad after a mission. From there, it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.

From ground to sky and beyond, the Commonwealth guarantees prime infrastructure, a robust talent pipeline, a highly innovative and collaborative ecosystem, and industry expertise that further Virginia’s mission to lead the nation’s aerospace industry.