Rocket Lab Shares Slide as Neutron Rocket Launch Slips to 2027

what happened

Rocket Lab has moved the maiden flight of its Neutron rocket to 2027, according to GuruFocus. One report says the stock fell 7.9% in the regular session and lost another 7.3% after hours, while a second describes a drop of nearly 12% on Thursday morning.

The cause was tiny air pockets between carbon-fiber layers in a forward propellant dome in the first stage, spotted while inspecting a newly cured part. The company is changing its manufacturing process and building a replacement component, and the revised method has already been tested on another dome. The new part must pass inspection before assembly, followed by water-pressure and very-low-temperature tests. Rocket Lab expects assembly and qualification to finish in the first quarter of 2027 and will announce a launch date only after those steps.

In August the company had revised its schedule, targeting a launch pad arrival by late 2026. Management says customer demand remains strong and that more contracts could be disclosed in the coming months.

why it matters

The delay raises development costs and pushes launch revenue further out. Neutron is meant to give Rocket Lab access to a much wider launch market and compete more directly with SpaceX, so investors will watch whether the interim milestones stay on schedule and whether a firm launch date emerges without another slip.

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