Rocket Lab (RKLB, Financial), often seen as a rival to SpaceX, announced a successful suborbital flight mission for the U.S. Department of Defense, focusing on hypersonic technology. Since November, Rocket Lab's stock has soared by 117%, driven by robust Q3 financial results and new federal defense and NASA contracts. The company is enhancing its hypersonic testing capabilities under the U.S. Defense Department's advanced hypersonic project.
Rocket Lab is also advancing the development of its Neutron rocket, designed for larger payloads and featuring reusable technology similar to SpaceX's Falcon 9. The Neutron aims to compete with SpaceX by offering extensive satellite launch services. Although still in development, Neutron promises advanced propulsion for supersonic speeds.
