Stock Market Today, Oct. 15: Rocket Lab Pushes Neutron Launch to 2027, Stock Falls 7%
Shares fell 6.64% as the company delayed its next-generation rocket, shifting investor focus to manufacturing progress and flight cadence, today, Oct. 15, 2026.
On October 15, the stock market saw mixed results, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rising 0.33% to 7,744 and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) up 0.08% to 26,713. Rocket Lab (RKLB) experienced a 6.64% drop in its shares, closing at $55.25, after pushing back its Neutron launch to 2027. The company's shares experienced a surge in trading volume, trading 47.7 million shares, which was about 141% above its three-month average of 19.8 million shares.
Rocket Lab, an end-to-end space launch and spacecraft systems provider, IPO'd in 2020 and has seen a 467% growth since going public. The company's medium-lift rocket, Neutron, has faced delays due to the discovery of microscopic air voids in the propellant dome of its next-generation rocket. Originally scheduled to launch in 2024, Neutron has been delayed multiple times, leading to the latest pushback.
However, Rocket Lab management remains optimistic that they will have a solution ready by early 2027, allowing for testing of the new tank. Despite the delays, there is potential for larger payload opportunities for Rocket Lab and its customers.
Among aerospace and defense peers in space launch, spacecraft, and satellite systems, Redwire (RDW) rose 3.29% to $8.90, and Intuitive Machines (LUNR) increased 4.99% to $11.57.
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