US Space Force Taps Rocket Lab for Comms Network

Rocket Lab has joined the U.S. Space Force's Space Data Network Consortium, contributing to the development of the Space Data Network Backbone. The company secured two competitive delivery orders totaling $12 million. These contracts are for the development, testing, and validation of secure optical and orbital network technology crucial for defense communications.

The initiative, managed by Space Systems Command, aims to establish a resilient, high-speed orbital communications network for defense operations across all domains. Rocket Lab will be responsible for building the core infrastructure, designing systems to link satellites and surface stations without traditional ground links. This move enhances system resilience against threats and diversifies supply chains.

A live space demonstration is slated for 2027, utilizing Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft equipped with advanced optical hardware. This mission will evaluate real-time, inter-satellite laser links in low-Earth orbit, demonstrating the network's capabilities. This selection reinforces Rocket Lab's strategy to offer end-to-end mission solutions for defense systems.