Rocket Lab Quietly Reshapes Satellite Power with Modular Solar Array Line

Rocket Lab’s new line of customizable solar arrays signals a transformative leap in how next-generation satellites will harness power in orbit—economically, efficiently, and at scale.

Rocket Lab, a rising force in the aerospace and launch services industry, has unveiled a new product line that could significantly alter the dynamics of satellite power systems: customizable, modular solar arrays. Announced this week, the offering is engineered to serve a wide spectrum of satellite applications—from low Earth orbit constellations to deep space missions—with enhanced power efficiency, reduced manufacturing complexity, and faster integration timelines. The rollout comes at a pivotal time. As private and government-backed satellite programs scale at an unprecedented rate, the need for more adaptable and cost-effective power solutions has become critical. Rocket Lab’s solution, which leverages vertically integrated manufacturing and proprietary deployment systems, is positioned to address this demand by giving operators greater flexibility in array size, wattage, and form factor—while maintaining rapid deployment cycles.

The customizable arrays are built with spacecraft-grade solar cells and lightweight composite booms, allowing satellites to maximize surface area and power output without increasing payload mass. This is particularly relevant for automated manufacturing and smallsat deployment programs that must minimize turnaround time without compromising reliability. This latest move underscores Rocket Lab’s shift from a pure-play launch provider to a vertically integrated space systems company. With satellite operators increasingly looking to reduce their dependency on multiple vendors, the introduction of in-house solar arrays strengthens Rocket Lab’s pitch as an end-to-end mission partner.

The development not only tightens Rocket Lab’s grip on the commercial space supply chain—it also puts industry stakeholders on alert. As demand for automation-ready, scalable power systems grows, this modular approach could quickly become a new industry benchmark, potentially reshaping procurement models for commercial and defense satellite programs alike.