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Posted on 02/15/2026 9:44:43 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Throughout Rocket Lab's various facilities, we're starting to see large structural components of Neturon making progress as the company pushes toward a maiden flight. Most recently, the company showcased the interstage, which is just about ready to begin qualification testing.
In a video from the company, we see teams working with this structure, along with a few other core Neutron sections in the background. Here I will go more in-depth into the recent developments, challenges the company still faces, when to expect a launch, and more....
Looking back at the video, if you pause it about halfway through, in the background, you can see what looks like the upper stage. For a while now, Stage 2 has been marked as complete and ready for flight. On the left side, the mounting for an eventual single vacuum-optimized Archimedes engine can be seen. Besides that, the stage is just waiting for the rest of the rocket to finish testing.
In regard to those other parts of the rocket, a few weeks ago in late Janurary the fairing structure arrived in Virginia. Late last year, the fairings completed qualification and were then sent on a long journey to the U.S. from New Zealand. After arriving, teams started their inspections to prepare the fairing for further pre-launch testing at Neutron's nearby launch and test site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3...
Last month, in January, during a pressure test of Neutron's first stage tank, it ruptured, destroying the stage...
Fortunately, there was no significant damage to the test structure or facilities, and the next Stage 1 tank is already in production. That being said, this could cause some delays in the event that other core Neutron structure components are ready and end up having to wait on the first stage...
(Excerpt) Read more at thespacebucket.com ...
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Throughout Rocket Lab's various facilities, we're starting to see large structural components of Neturon making progress as the company pushes toward a maiden flight. Most recently, in the last few days, the company showcased the interstage, which is just about ready to begin qualification testing.Rocket Lab Continues To Prepare For Neutron's Maiden Flight | 8:23
TheSpaceBucket | 74.8K subscribers | 7,058 views | February 15, 2026
I like that integrated petal-style fairing.
That’s no .45 ACP round...
Can’t call it their virgin flight because of Virgin Galactic.
They should name themselves Maiden Galactic and then nobody else can create a startup. No more first flights.
You should see the gun.
Fascinating. Post BUMP!
They’ve nicknamed that fairing Hungry Hippo..
I like this company a lot. I bought shares a couple years ago. My 93 year old stepmom did, too.
That would sew things up. I’m surprised Bezos didn’t think of that.
Risk involved, negative earnings, but probably a long term good idea! (NASDAQ:RKLB)
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I reminds me of that old silent film with the Moon getting hit in the eye by such a projectile.
It might be some good timing. There's much more interest in hypersonic capability, and it has possible applications for orbital flights. Also, the last of the Pegasus rockets is going to be launched in the near future (Swift Observatory rescue).
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