Neutron's first launch slips again amid trouble with carbon composites

Rocket Lab has announced that its Neutron launch vehicle will not be ready for launch until 2027, due to issues discovered during the manufacturing of the rocket's carbon composite structures. This announcement confirms what many insiders in Rocket Lab and the aerospace industry had already anticipated. Although Rocket Lab had hoped to launch the first Neutron rocket before the end of 2026, as initially suggested in August, the latest statement from the company indicates ongoing manufacturing difficulties with the rocket's main booster stage.

The Neutron's reusable first stage is constructed from carbon composites, which provide advantages such as reduced weight, increased strength, and enhanced corrosion resistance. However, carbon composites are typically more challenging to manufacture compared to traditional metallic structures.