Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ: RKLB) has secured a $90 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to build two geostationary satellites designed to host a space domain awareness payload.
The contract was announced on May 21, marking a significant expansion of the company’s work with the U.S. military’s space branch.
Under the agreement, Rocket Lab will be responsible for designing and building the spacecraft, integrating the Heimdall optical payload, and managing launch integration activities.
The company will also oversee on-orbit operations for a maximum period of five years following commissioning of the satellites.
Both satellites will be constructed on a Lightning bus, built in line with geostationary orbit requirements.
This contract represents the first time Rocket Lab has been awarded a satellite production program specifically for geostationary orbit.
The award follows the successful Space Systems Command initiative to build and deliver two Heimdall prototype payloads, establishing a foundation for this expanded program.
Markets reacted positively to the news, with shares climbing over 8% on Friday, pushing the company’s year-to-date returns to 95%.
Institutional interest in the stock has also been rising, with 45 hedge funds holding a stake in the company in Q4 2025, up from 34 in the prior quarter, according to Insider Monkey’s database.
Wall Street currently carries a Moderate Buy rating on RKLB, reflecting broader analyst confidence in the company’s trajectory.
Rocket Lab describes itself as a global leader in launch services and space systems, designing and manufacturing spacecraft, related components, rockets, and on-orbit management solutions for the space economy.
