Rocket Lab unveiled the Spacecraft Bus Lineup

Updated family of advanced spacecraft delivers speed, affordability, performance, and configurability

Rocket Lab USA, Inc., a prominent launch and space systems firm, has unveiled its array of spacecraft buses today, consolidating several custom designs developed by Rocket Lab for various customers and missions. This family of spacecraft is the culmination of over four years of development in Rocket Lab’s space systems capabilities. Beck highlighted the configurable nature of these spacecraft, emphasizing their ability to deliver high performance at scale. These spacecraft share numerous common components and subsystems, all designed and manufactured in-house by Rocket Lab, including carbon composite structures, star trackers, reaction wheels, solar arrays, radios, separation systems, and avionics.

Clevenger highlighted the balance between commonality and configurability in Rocket Lab’s spacecraft design. Rocket Lab’s family of spacecraft includes three main models: the Photon, Lightning, and Pioneer. Photon, originally Rocket Lab’s integrated launch-plus-spacecraft solution, is a modified Electron Kick Stage designed to deliver a capable low Earth orbit (LEO) platform for civil, defense, and commercial customers. Pioneer is a highly configurable medium delta-V platform designed to support a variety of payloads and mission profiles, including re-entry missions and dynamic space operations. Rocket Lab has established an advanced spacecraft development and manufacturing complex at its Long Beach headquarters to support the rapid production of its family of spacecraft, featuring a cleanroom and production and test facilities designed to accommodate constellation-class manufacturing and satellite assembly, integration, and testing for various customers.