Rocket Lab will adapt its Lightning bus for geostationary orbit and perform spacecraft assembly, integration, and test at the Long Beach Spacecraft Production Complex, with on-orbit operations planned for up to five years after commissioning.

This program marks Rocket Lab’s first satellite production effort in GEO, expanding its vertically integrated mission model to become the prime contractor and end-to-end mission provider.

Rocket Lab will handle launch integration with a government-furnished launch vehicle and will provide up to five years of on-orbit operations following commissioning.

Forward-looking statements in the press release are subject to risks and uncertainties, with readers directed to SEC filings for factors that could affect actual results.

The press release references potential forward-looking statements and related SEC filings, indicating the information comes from a formal corporate announcement.

The program continues the Heimdall development from two prototype payloads awarded to GEOST in 2025, now transitioned to operational space vehicle delivery under Rocket Lab Optical Systems.

The program moves from payload prototyping to operational space vehicle delivery, building on the Heimdall prototype phase and ongoing SDA-related production, including other Lightning bus programs.

Payloads for Heimdall are produced by Rocket Lab Optical Systems and will be integrated on the spacecraft before launch, with mission operations conducted from Rocket Lab facilities after launch.

Two GEO spacecraft will be delivered with Heimdall payloads provided by Rocket Lab Optical Systems, and mission operations will be conducted from Rocket Lab facilities following launch.

Rocket Lab has been awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate, and operate two geostationary satellites hosting the Heimdall space domain awareness payload.

The contract aligns with Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated mission model and leverages existing capabilities across spacecraft, payloads, and launch integration.

The Heimdall payloads, initially developed as low-cost electro-optical sensors for GEO satellites, were produced during a Space Systems Command program and were integrated into Rocket Lab Optical Systems after Rocket Lab acquired GEOST in 2025.