Rocket Lab launches two rockets to space

A space company with ties to New Mexico broke through a glass ceiling this week by launching two rockets into space in a 24-hour period from different hemispheres.

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, satellite components and on-orbit management. The company has a manufacturing facility in Albuquerque at the Sandia Science & Technology Park, where is builds high efficiency solar cells, solar arrays and other products for satellite and aerospace operations.

"Two successful launches less than 24 hours apart from pads in different hemispheres," Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said in a statement. "That’s unprecedented capability in the small launch market and one we’re immensely proud to deliver at Rocket Lab."

The first rocket took off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia.

Less than a day later, at 4:55 p.m. on Nov. 25, Rocket Lab deployed five satellites into low Earth orbit, 400 miles high, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. Rocket Lab has deployed 203 satellites.

"The main point, the big takeaway here, is that now the United States has another launch company that is capable of conducting launches in 24 hours," said Brian Barnett, the founder and CEO of Santa Fe-based Solstar Space Co., a space communications company. "It's (significant for) responding to customer requirements and proving what you can do as a company."

Barnett said the news of the quick launches likely puts Rocket Lab in competition with SpaceX as the other commercial space company capable of launching rockets in quick succession.

The satellites were deployed for Kinéis, a French Internet-of-Things constellation operator.

They were onboard Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle, a reusable spacecraft that has made 56 launches.

"This achievement would not have been possible without Rocket Lab's Electron precision in placing our satellites in their planned positions," said Kinéis CEO Alexandre Tisserant. "With 15 Kinéis satellites now in orbit, we're one step closer to the full deployment of our dedicated IoT constellation for transmitting data in near-real time, anywhere on the globe."

The company record for launch turnover exemplified the company's recent momentum. The company's stock was trading at $25.83 per share on Tuesday, which is up 130% in the last month.

On Monday, SolAero by Rocket Lab — Rocket Lab acquired the company, which specializes in space-grade solar cells and solar cell assemblies, in 2022 — finalized its agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to create manufacturing jobs in Albuquerque. The department will provide SolAero with $23.9 million in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act, to create 100 new jobs in Albuquerque.

New Mexico's congressional delegation announced the preliminary proposal in June.

"This finalized agreement to deliver $24 million from the CHIPS Act to support one of our homegrown space-based defense companies and create 100 new advanced manufacturing jobs in Albuquerque is exactly what I had in mind," said Sen. Martin Heinrich, who served on a conference committee of Senate and House members to finalize what eventually became the CHIPS and Science Act.