Rocket Lab Awarded $12 Million in Orders From U.S. Space Force
By Stephen Nakrosis
Rocket Lab said the company received two delivery orders totalling $12 million from the U.S. Space Force as part of its program to demonstrate interoperability of secure optical communications in space.
The awards follow Rocket Lab joining the Space Force's Space Data Network Consortium. The consortium's purpose is to design and deploy a resilient satellite communications architecture, Rocket Lab said.
Rocket Lab will work to support development of the SDN Backbone program, which is designed to develop a secure, high-speed global satellite communications network for military operations. Rocket Lab's role will include designing, testing, and demonstrating key technologies to enable seamless communication between satellites and ground systems, according to the company.
Rocket Lab also said it will conduct an in-orbit demonstration using a company-built Photon spacecraft carrying advanced optical and network capabilities. The company is expected to deliver an operational demonstration next year, it added.
Write to Stephen Nakrosis at stephen.nakrosis@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 18, 2026 17:45 ET (21:45 GMT)
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