Rocket Lab pushes Neutron rocket's debut flight to 2027; shares fall 6%

Rocket Lab said the inaugural launch of its larger, reusable Neutron rocket will slip into next year, sending the space firm's shares down about 6% in extended trading.

The company had previously targeted Neutron's first flight for the fourth quarter of 2026; in August it softened the timeline to getting the vehicle to the pad by year-end.

Neutron is a reusable medium-lift rocket central to Rocket Lab's bid for larger commercial satellite, civil-space and US national-security missions.

The delay is a setback in the race to challenge SpaceX's dominance, though Rocket Lab's smaller Electron rocket continues to fly regularly.