Neutron key component manufacturing hindered, maiden flight delayed again, RKLB has plummeted nearly 15%.

BlockBeats news, October 15 — Rocket Lab announced that it has pushed back the first launch target for its Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket from Q4 2026 to 2027, primarily due to manufacturing issues with carbon fiber composite components for the first-stage propellant tanks. The company still needs to carry out design optimization and production process adjustments.

This is not the first technical setback for Neutron. In January of this year, the rocket's first-stage tank ruptured during pressure testing, extending subsequent manufacturing and verification work. This latest delay means Rocket Lab's timeline for entering the medium-lift launch vehicle market and competing with SpaceX for large satellite launch contracts has been pushed back further, and the related R&D costs and commercialization revenue realization cycle also face extended risk.

Hit by this news, RKLB shares fell further in U.S. after-hours trading. According to TradingBeats monitoring, RKLB on Hyperliquid was last quoted at $54.53, plunging about 14.8% in 24 hours. A whale's long position of approximately 44,400 RKLB contracts was liquidated this morning, with a notional transaction value of about $2.49 million and a realized trading loss of about $740,000 (0x58f0).

Bloomberg reported on August 11 that Rocket Lab had already said its Neutron rocket project still faced new delay risks, with the first launch potentially postponed to 2027. The company planned to deliver Neutron to the launch pad in Q4 as originally scheduled, but did not confirm that the rocket could complete its first flight this year. Previously, Rocket Lab's goal was to complete Neutron's first launch before the end of 2026.

Previous news: Rocket Lab warns of delay risk for Neutron's first flight, possibly postponed to 2027