"As the original architect of Vector's vision, it's deeply meaningful to bring these assets home to Phantom. This acquisition isn't just about technology, it's about momentum. We're accelerating Daytona, creating high-tech aerospace jobs in Tucson, and moving faster toward orbital capability."
"Following the failure of a first stage tank during testing, the company is pushing the medium-lift rocket's debut into the fourth quarter of this year. Effectively that probably means 2027 for the booster, which is disappointing because we all very much want to see another reusable rocket take flight."
Rocket Lab postponed its Neutron medium-lift rocket debut to the fourth quarter of 2027 following a first stage tank failure during testing. Separately, Phantom Space, co-founded by Jim Cantrell, acquired the remnants of Vector Launch, the company Cantrell previously led before its financial collapse in 2019. The acquisition includes flight-proven design elements, engineering data, and technology originally developed for Vector. Cantrell plans to integrate these assets into Phantom's Daytona small-lift vehicle to reduce development risk and accelerate progress toward orbital capability while creating aerospace jobs in Tucson, Arizona.
#rocket-development #neutron-rocket-delay #vector-launch-acquisition #phantom-space #small-lift-rockets
Read at Ars Technica
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