'Launching anywhere, anytime and without compromise': Rocket Lab unveils new 'GHOST' portable spaceport system

Rocket Lab is set to make its rocket launches even more versatile and global with the introduction of a new portable spaceport system called GHOST. GHOST, which stands for Global Hypersonic & Orbital Spaceport Technology, enables the company's Electron and HASTE rockets to be launched from any location, at any time. The system is essentially the entire launch infrastructure, including ground support and range control systems, packed into standard shipping containers and deployed wherever it's needed.

Electron, Rocket Lab's workhorse orbital rocket, has completed 83 missions since its debut in 2017, while HASTE, its suborbital counterpart, has been used for nine successful flights since its maiden voyage in June 2023. Both rockets have significantly impacted small orbital launches and hypersonic testing.

Rocket Lab currently launches from two sites in New Zealand and one in Virginia, but GHOST will allow the company to expand its launch footprint even further. The portable spaceport system will enable Rocket Lab to meet the needs of customers seeking more mobility, such as missile defense testing or establishing their own orbital launch capabilities.

GHOST was developed in response to a request from a HASTE customer who desired a more mobile launch system. The company has built a second pad at its New Zealand site and another at Wallops Island in Virginia to accommodate larger rockets like their upcoming Neutron. However, Neutron has yet to make its maiden flight, despite delays being common in the development of new rockets.

Despite these challenges, Rocket Lab is on track to deliver the first Neutron to Wallops Island by the fourth quarter of 2025. The company is confident that GHOST will help them achieve their goal of becoming a truly global launch provider.