Brief

Rocket Lab delays first Neutron launch to 2027 over carbon‑fiber dome issue

The California launch provider said manufacturing defects in the Neutron's first‑stage fuel‑tank domes require a new forward dome and push the inaugural flight into 2027.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:47:50 GMT

Rocket Lab announced on Oct. 13 that the debut of its next‑generation Neutron rocket has been moved from late 2026 to 2027 because of a manufacturing issue with carbon‑fiber propellant domes, the company said in a YouTube video.

Founder and CEO Peter Beck explained that inspectors found voids inside a recently cured forward dome – the large carbon‑fiber cap that houses liquid oxygen and liquid methane. While the voids do not guarantee failure, Beck said the company will only proceed when it has sufficient safety margins.

After testing, Rocket Lab added mitigations to the automated fiber placement process and produced an aft dome that Beck described as the "highest quality carbon composite dome to date." The company now must build a new forward dome, cure and inspect it, and integrate the hardware into a complete first stage. Those steps are expected to finish by the end of the year, with stage‑level testing slated for the first quarter of 2027. Beck said a new target launch date will be set after those tests.

"We believe Neutron is going to be a game‑changer, and taking the time now to solve these challenges means we're in a better position to deliver a rocket that's ready to meet the needs for the industry for years to come," Beck said in the video.

Key facts

Rocket Lab delayed the Neutron rocket's first launch from late 2026 to 2027. (space.com)
The delay is due to voids found in carbon‑fiber propellant domes of the first stage. (space.com)
A new forward dome will be built and inspected by year‑end; stage testing is planned for Q1 2027. (space.com)
CEO Peter Beck said the issue was resolved for the aft dome and described it as the highest‑quality to date. (space.com)
A new launch date will be announced after the Q1 2027 tests. (space.com)

What happens next

Rocket Lab expects to complete the forward dome and begin first‑stage testing in the first quarter of 2027, after which a new launch date will be announced.