(Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab shares take off after US Space Force taps aerospace company for coveted launch program

Rocket Lab joins established rivals like Blue Origin and SpaceX to compete for $5.6 billion in contracts.

3/28/25 8:10AM

The Space Systems Command announced that Rocket Lab and Stoke Space would join Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program. This contract opens the door for selected companies to compete for launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions up for grabs — amounting to an estimated $5.6 billion in task orders.

The Space Force’s executive officer praised the new additions for bringing “innovative approaches and increased competition” to the program, positioning them as a new generation of launch providers. Rocket Lab plans to qualify for the program with its Neutron rocket, which is set for its first launch in the second half of the year. If successful, Rocket Lab — which already earns nearly half its revenue from government contracts — will be eligible to compete for individual orders under the NSSL program.

“There are a number of reasons both the US government and commercial providers want an alternative way to reach orbit,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told Sherwood News in a recent interview. “With a surge of government and commercial constellations coming to market in the next few years, they all require reliable launch services.”

Rocket Lab is down about 27% year to date heading into today’s session.

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eBay stock slumps on gloomy Q4 outlook despite solid Q3 earnings

Shares of eBay fell as much as 10.5% in premarket trading on Thursday morning after the company gave a lower-than-expected profit forecast for the important holiday shopping season.

The e-commerce giant reported solid numbers for the third quarter on Wednesday, with revenue up 9% as reported to $2.8 billion and gross merchandise volume rising 10% to $20.1 billion, topping the average analyst forecast of $19.4 billion, per Bloomberg.

However, concerns about the future somewhat overshadowed these results.

eBay outlined its profit outlook for the period ending in December to $1.31 to $1.36 a share, with revenue at $2.83 billion to $2.89 billion. According to Bloomberg-compiled data, this broadly matches Wall Street’s estimates for the top line, but misses on the bottom line, with analysts forecasting EPS to come in at $1.39 — suggesting the company expects some further margin pressure.

The company has been facing macroeconomic challenges since the US ended the de minimis tariff exemption in late August, with the online marketplace reliant on shipments. One small silver lining? CFO Peggy Alford highlighted a “less durable trend” on a post-earnings call: that as commodity prices for precious metals boomed, demand for bullion and collectible coins on eBay spiked.