Rocket Lab launched its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) rocket today from Wallops Island, Virginia. The mission successfully deployed a hypersonic vehicle for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit.
This flight marks the company’s fourth hypersonic test mission. Rocket Lab completed these four launches within a six-month period to demonstrate rapid testing capabilities for national security applications.
The launch carried the DART AE, an autonomous hypersonic vehicle developed by Hypersonix Launch Systems. A 3D-printed scramjet engine powers the DART AE vehicle.
The event supports Rocket Lab’s strategic expansion into the defense sector. The development timeline of the larger Neutron rocket remains a primary catalyst for the company. Management continues to monitor the company's cash burn.