TLDR
- Rocket Lab stock jumped 4.1% in premarket trading to $66.53 after announcing a $266 million U.S. Space Force contract
- The contract covers 12 suborbital launches for missile defense, with up to six additional launches possible
- Launches will primarily take place from a new Rocket Lab site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska
- The first launch under the contract is expected no earlier than the end of 2026
- Coming into Monday, RKLB had fallen 8% this year to $63.91, down from a high of $151 earlier in 2026
Rocket Lab stock jumped 4.1% in premarket trading Monday to $66.53 after the company landed its largest contract ever — a $266 million deal with the U.S. Space Force.
The contract, awarded by the Space Force Space Systems Command’s Rocket Systems Launch Program, tasks Rocket Lab with executing 12 suborbital launches for missile defense. Up to six additional launches are also included. The first is expected no earlier than late 2026.
CEO Peter Beck didn’t hold back: “Cadence, iteration, and relentless execution are essential to maturing America’s missile defense capabilities, and that’s exactly what we bring with launch leadership.”
The launches will mostly take place from a new Rocket Lab site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska. That adds to its existing launch sites in New Zealand, Virginia, and a second Virginia facility.
Rocket Lab $RKLB has won its largest launch contract to date, a $266 million award from the U.S. Space Force supporting missile-defense development.
The agreement covers 12 suborbital launches, with options for up to six more.
The first mission is expected no earlier than late… pic.twitter.com/3No34D00tn
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 27, 2026
The broader market also gave RKLB a lift. Stock futures rose after the U.S. paused attacks on Iran, sending oil prices down nearly 5% to around $82 a barrel.
Coming into Monday, RKLB was down 8% year-to-date at $63.91. The stock had hit $151 earlier in the year before selling off hard.
The SpaceX Effect
A big part of that drop traces back to SpaceX. Space-related stocks surged ahead of SpaceX’s record IPO, then pulled back once it hit the market.
SpaceX priced its IPO at $135, putting its valuation at around $1.8 trillion. It briefly traded as high as $225.64 before falling to $115.07 heading into Monday. That move wiped out roughly $1.5 trillion in market value.
Rocket Lab followed a similar path. At its May peak, RKLB traded at 95 times estimated 2026 sales. That multiple has since compressed to around 42 times — right in line with where SpaceX sits now at 40 times.
The sector tends to move with SpaceX given how central it is to the modern space economy. But individual catalysts still matter, as Monday’s contract win proved.
What the Contract Means
The $266 million figure makes this the largest launch contract in Rocket Lab’s history. It’s also a direct vote of confidence from the U.S. government in Rocket Lab’s ability to deliver on national security missions at pace.
The suborbital launches will support missile defense programs — a high-priority area for the Space Force. The Alaska launch site adds operational flexibility and puts Rocket Lab closer to certain orbital trajectories relevant to defense missions.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is already the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket. Its HASTE vehicle handles hypersonic test launches for the U.S. government and allied nations.
The company’s spacecraft and components have supported more than 1,700 missions, spanning GPS, constellation builds, and deep-space exploration.
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