Rocket Lab Inaugrates Engine Development Center In California To Aid Rocket Engine Production

Space systems and launch services company Rocket Lab USA Inc RKLB has opened its new Engine Development Center in Long Beach, California.

The new advanced manufacturing and development center enables high-rate production of the Rutherford and Archimedes rocket engines.

The 144,000+ square foot manufacturing complex will support the high-rate production of Rocket Lab's 3D printed Rutherford engine, as well development and production for the new Archimedes engine that will power new medium-lift rocket, Neutron.

Rocket Lab took over the lease for the facility and acquired the factory's production assets, machinery, and equipment in May 2023 for $16.1 million, generating significant savings for the Neutron's production program.

The completed Archimedes engines will undergo testing at NASA's historic Stennis Space Center in Mississippi where Rocket Lab is establishing a dedicated test facility at the A-3 Test Stand.

The Archimedes engines will be then integrated onto the Neutron launch vehicle in preparation for lift-off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 3 at Virginia Spaceport Authority's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Also Read: Rocket Lab Lands Deal With Leidos For Four HASTE Missions Launch

"By co-locating our Engine Development Center near our Long Beach headquarters and production complex, we've maximized collaboration between our engineering and manufacturing to ensure streamlined efficiency as we continue ramping up Electron launch cadence and get closer to Neutron's debut launch," said Founder and CEO Peter Beck.

Price Action: RKLB shares are trading higher by 0.23% at $4.32 in premarket on the last check Thursday.