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Investing.com -- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) stock surged 10% after the company successfully launched its 70th Electron mission, cementing its position as a global leader in responsive launch services and establishing Electron as the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket.
The "Live, Laugh, Launch" mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on August 23, less than three weeks after Electron’s previous successful launch from the same site. This marks Electron’s 12th mission of 2025 as the company continues to execute an accelerated launch schedule.
Rocket Lab has been maintaining a rapid pace of launches this year, including a record-setting prior quarter when two launches were conducted just two days apart from Launch Complex 1 in late June. The majority of this year’s Electron missions, including the most recent one, have been part of multi-launch contracts with satellite operators to deploy constellations in low Earth orbit.
In addition to its launch achievements, Rocket Lab recently announced plans to boost its U.S. investments to expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The company will receive a $23.9 million award through the Department of Commerce as part of the CHIPS and Science Act to support these investments, which aim to provide supply chain security for space-grade solar cells and electro-optical sensors for national security space missions.
The company’s capital investments over the next five years are expected to strengthen its position as a leading satellite manufacturer, components supplier, and end-to-end mission provider. Rocket Lab is one of only two U.S. companies specializing in the production of high efficiency, radiation hardened, space-grade compound semiconductors.
Rocket Lab’s solar cells have powered significant space missions including the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s Artemis lunar explorations, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and the Mars Insight Lander.
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