Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB) confirmed Thursday that two NASA-backed spacecraft successfully began their lengthy journey toward Mars, offering investors a concrete demonstration of the company's deep-space capabilities just days after posting surprisingly strong quarterly numbers.
The probes, developed for NASA and the University of California, Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on November 13 aboard a Blue Origin rocket at 3:55 p.m. EST.
Early Contact Confirmed, Testing Phase Begins
Teams made initial contact with both spacecraft shortly after launch, and each vehicle is producing stable power. Engineers are now running early tests including orientation checks, solar array deployment, and activation of guidance hardware before moving on to maneuver planning.
Rocket Lab's Explorer-class platform is purpose-built for high-energy missions beyond Earth orbit. The ESCAPADE program moved from early design work to launch readiness in roughly three-and-a-half years, which the company described as unusually rapid for a Mars-focused project. Executives credited their vertically integrated production model, which brings avionics, propulsion hardware, reaction wheels, and other critical systems under one roof.
Taking the Scenic Route to Mars
Because Earth and Mars aren't currently aligned for a direct transfer, the mission will first follow a looping path near Earth's Lagrange point 2. The spacecraft will wait in that region until fall 2026, when they can use an Earth gravity assist to begin the final cruise toward Mars. Arrival is expected in September 2027, with science operations scheduled to start the following year.
Strong Quarter Backs Up the Hype
On November 10, Rocket Lab reported third-quarter revenue of $155.05 million, beating the consensus estimate of $151.75 million. The space company posted a loss of three cents per share, significantly better than analyst estimates for a loss of 11 cents per share.
The company secured 17 Electron launch contracts in the quarter and expects to surpass its previous annual launch record in the fourth quarter. Rocket Lab remains on track to close out the year with more than 20 launches.
Fourth-quarter revenue guidance came in between $170 million and $180 million versus estimates of $171.80 million.
Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were up 1.64% Friday morning, trading at $45.85 at the time of publication, according to market data.