Rocket Lab Neutron

Neutron

Function

Medium-lift launch vehicle

Manufacturer

Country of origin

United States

Cost per launch

$50 million

Size

Height

42.8 m

Diameter

7 m
5 m

Mass

480,000 kg

Associated rockets

Comparable

Launch history

Status

In development

Launch sites

First flight

2026 (planned)

Payloads
Payload to low Earth orbit
Mass	13,000 kg 15,000 kg
Payload to Moon
Payload to Venus
Mass	1,500 kg
Payload to Mars
Mass	1,500 kg

Stages information
First stage
Height	42.8 m
Diameter	7 m
Powered by	Archimedes (9)
Maximum thrust	6,600 kN
Second stage
Height	11.5 m
Diameter	4.9 m
Powered by	Archimedes Vacuum (1)
Maximum thrust	900 kN

Neutron is a partially reusable, medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle under development by Rocket Lab. Announced on March 1, 2021, the vehicle is designed to be capable of delivering a payload of 13,000 kg (28,700 lb) to low Earth orbit in a partially reusable configuration, and will focus on the growing megaconstellation satellite delivery market. First launch is expected no earlier than the last quarter of 2026.