Posted: Sat, Mar 1, 2025, 11:32 AM ET (1632 GMT)

Rocket Lab says it is still on track for a first launch of its Neutron rocket this year after a report claimed the program was facing major delays. In an earnings call Thursday, Rocket Lab said the first Neutron launch was expected in the second half of the year, a slight delay from previous estimate of a mid-2025 debut. The company did not directly address a report by Bleecker Street Research earlier this week that concluded that a 2025 launch was unlikely, based on progress on the rocket and its launch pad, and that the inaugural launch could slip to as late as mid-2027. Rocket Lab said it is working in parallel on several aspects of the vehicle and pad, and announced Thursday it had acquired a barge that will be converted into a landing platform for the vehicle.