Rocket Lab USA, a leading launch provider and space systems company, has announced today it will open a new space systems complex in Littleton, Colorado to support growing customer demand for flight software, mission simulation, and Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) services.
The new complex expands on Rocket Lab’s existing footprint in Colorado, which was established in October 2021 with the acquisition of Advanced Solutions, an aerospace engineering firm that develops industry-leading software and technology solutions for reliable space mission design and operation. ASI’s off-the-shelf spacecraft flight software, MAX, has been operating across 49 spacecraft for a cumulative 135 years in space supporting missions for leading aerospace prime contractors, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. DOD organizations, NASA, and commercial spacecraft developers.
The new complex will be established near Rocket Lab’s existing 15,000 sq ft location on Shaffer Parkway in Littleton and will add 40,000 sq ft of new lab, production, and office space. The complex is expected to be completed by late 2022 and will include two mission operations centers. The expansion will also support team growth, with Rocket Lab’s Colorado headcount expected to double to more than 120 people by early 2023 with roles spanning flight software development, GNC, spacecraft simulation, and systems engineering.
“After welcoming ASI to the Rocket Lab family late last year, we are incredibly excited to expand our Colorado footprint, grow the team, expand our engineering capabilities, and further enhance our space systems portfolio to meet growing customer demand,”
said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck.
“As an end-to-end space company, we can support every phase of our customer’s missions from initial spacecraft design, manufacture, and test, right through to launch and on-orbit operation. Flight software is a vital part of every space mission and with our new complex and expanded team, we can build on ASI’s strong heritage to deliver industry-leading flight software products to our global customers at scale.”
In addition to the 49 spacecraft already operating MAX Flight Software, Rocket Lab’s Colorado-based team is supporting development for a range of upcoming missions, including the Company’s upcoming CAPSTONE mission to the Moon and ESCAPADE mission to Mars for NASA featuring Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft.
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 109 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand, one of which is currently operational, and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in 2022.
Courtesy of RocketLab
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