Rocket Lab Corporation completed a successful HASTE sub‑orbital launch on November 18 2025 from Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia. The flight carried a primary payload from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and a suite of secondary payloads from federal and industry partners, all designed to test technologies critical to missile‑defense and hypersonic research.
The HASTE vehicle is a sub‑orbital variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket that shares its carbon‑fiber composite airframe and 3D‑printed engines but incorporates a modified upper kick stage to support hypersonic flight profiles. This sixth HASTE flight since the platform’s 2023 debut demonstrates the company’s ability to deliver a high‑performance, cost‑effective test platform for national‑security programs.
Rocket Lab secured the contract in early 2024 and delivered the launch within 14 months, a turnaround that is markedly faster than the multi‑year timelines typical of traditional defense contractors. The rapid schedule underscores Rocket Lab’s agility and its growing reputation as a responsive partner for government testing needs.
"HASTE is an important platform for accelerating hypersonic technology readiness for the nation, and we’re proud to be delivering this mission for DIU and MDA," said Brian Rogers, Vice President of Global Launch Services. LtCol Nicholas Estep, Director of DIU’s Emerging Technology Portfolio, added, "Accessing the commercial and non‑traditional ecosystem is a key enabler to accelerating progress in the hypersonics community of interest, particularly for closing mission timelines and driving towards mass and affordability. Working with MDA to demonstrate commercially‑focused sub‑orbital launch services is a great example of that axiom."
The successful flight strengthens Rocket Lab’s position in the hypersonic test market and signals a broader shift toward commercial‑grade launch services for defense applications. By delivering rapid, repeatable test opportunities, Rocket Lab is helping the U.S. accelerate the development of hypersonic weapons and counter‑measures, while expanding its own portfolio beyond commercial satellite launches.
The HASTE program’s continued success suggests that Rocket Lab will likely secure additional government contracts, further integrating its launch capabilities into national‑security infrastructure and reinforcing its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving hypersonic landscape.
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