One of the most gracious things that large companies like Meta and Netflix do is to share their knowledge with others in the community. On November 3, Meta hosted Video @Scale Fall 2022 which featured multiple speakers from Meta and other companies. If you’re unfamiliar with the event, here’s the description, “Designed for engineers that develop or manage large-scale video systems serving millions of people.”
https://www.facebook.com/atscaleevents/videos/426857719643340/
META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
One talk drew my attention; Meta’s Ryan Lei speaking on Scaling AV1 End-To-End Delivery at Meta. Watch above or use this link: Scaling AV1 End-to-End Delivery at Meta Ryan Lei Scaling AV1 End-to-End Delivery at Meta By At Scale Facebook
For perspective, where Netflix has focused AV1 distribution on Smart TVs, Meta’s focus is mobile. Briefly, the company started delivering “AV1-encoded FB/IG Reels videos to selected iPhone and Android devices” in 2022. Lei’s talk included encoding, decoding, and some observations about the bandwidth savings, improved MOS scores, and increased viewing time that AV1 delivered.
Here are my top 6 takeaways from Lei’s excellent presentation.

1. Meta Finds that AV1 is 30% More Efficient than HEVC/VP9

As you’ll learn later in this article, Meta relies upon software playback on iOS and Android platforms. Since both platforms support HEVC decoding, iOS in hardware (since 2017) and Android mostly in hardware but also in software, it’s reasonable to ask why Meta didn’t just use HEVC?
The answer is that in Meta’s own tests, they found that AV1 was 30% more efficient than both VP9 and HEVC, about 21% lower than the 38% higher efficiency that I found in this study by Streaming Media. Lei didn’t discuss HEVC in his presentation, but you’d have to guess that Meta chose AV1 over HEVC because the superior quality AV1 was able to deliver outweighed the potential impact of software playback on mobile device battery life.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
2. Meta Encodes with SVT-AV1 For Video On Demand (VOD)
The chart shown below tracks the encoding time and quality levels of the open-source codecs shown on the upper right, which includes libaom-av1 (AV1 codec), libvpx (VP9), x265 (HEVC), x264, (AVC), vvenc (VVC), and SVT-AV1 (AV1).
Here’s how Lei interpreted this data. “From this graph, we see that SVT-AV1 maintains a consistent performance across a wide range of complexity levels. No matter for an encoding efficiency or compute efficiency point of view, SVT-AV1 always achieves the most optimal results among open-source encoders.” Again, these results track my own findings, at least as it relates to SVT-AV1 as compared to Libaom.
Interestingly, the chart only tracks software encoders, not hardware, which present a completely different quality/encoding time curve. You’ll see why this is important at the end of this post.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
3. Meta Creates Their Encoding Ladder Using the Convex Hull
There are many forms of per-title encoding. Some, like YouTube, are based on machine learning, while others’, like Netflix, are based on multiple encodes to find the convex hull. Since Meta’s encoding task is much closer to YouTube than Netflix (high volume UGC), you might assume that Meta uses AI as well.
However, Meta actually uses the convex hull, a brute force technique that involves encoding at multiple resolutions and multiple bitrates to find the combination that comprises the convex hull for that video. In the example shown below, Meta encoded at seven resolutions and five CRF levels, a total of 35 encodes. To compute the convex hull, Meta plots the 35 data points and then draws a line connecting the points on the upper left boundary. The points on the convex hull are the optimal encoding configuration for that video.
As Lei points out, “the complexity of this process is quite high.” To reduce the complexity, Meta uses techniques like computing the convex hull with high-speed presets, and then encoding the selected resolution and CRF points using higher-quality presets for final delivery. Lei noted that though there are more encodes using this hybrid approach, as the optimal configurations are encoded twice, overall encoding time is reduced.
Just to state the obvious, this approach only works for video on demand, not live. Even with the fastest hardware encoders, you can’t produce 35 iterations to identify the optimal five. This indicates that Meta uses a different schema for live transcoding, which Lei doesn’t address.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
4. Meta Uses the Convex Hull Computed for AVC for VP9 and AV1
Like most large publishers, Meta encodes using multiple codecs like H.264, VP9, and AV1 to deliver to different devices. One surprising revelation was that Meta uses the convex hull computed for H.264 to guide the convex hull implementations for the VP9 and AV1 encodes.
Lei didn’t explain how this works – as you can see in the figure below, the resolutions and bitrates for the three codecs are obviously different, and that’s what you would expect. So, there must be some kind of interpolation of the convex hull information from one codec to another. But you see that VP9 delivers a 48% bitrate savings over the top H.264 ladder rung, while AV1 delivers 65%.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
5. Apple and Android Phones Present Completely Different Challenges
Again, no surprise. There are many fewer Apple devices, and all are premium high-performance models. In contrast, there’s a much greater range of Android devices, from low-cost/low-performance options to models that rival Apple in cost and performance.
Lei shared that Facebook tests Android devices to determine eligibility for AV1 videos. As you can see in the slide below, Meta delivers much different quality to iOS and Android devices.
It was clear from Lei’s talk that delivering AV1 to Apple phones was relatively simple compared to sending AV1 video to Android phones. This is actually the reverse of what you might expect, as iOS doesn’t support AV1 natively while Android does. Though you can deliver video via an app to iOS devices, as Meta does, Safari doesn’t support it. And even though Android does support AV1 playback natively, you’ll have to implement some type of testing protocol—like Meta—to ensure smooth playback until AV1 hardware support becomes pervasive, which probably won’t be until 2024 or beyond.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
6. AV1 has Delivered in Several Key Metrics
Integrating a new codec into your encoding and delivery pipeline isn’t trivial. So, the big question is, was AV1 worth it? The slide below displays three graphs. Sorry that the quality in the original slide is suboptimal, but here’s the net/net.
The graph on the top left shows the week-over-week playback MOS on all videos played on an iPhone. It shows about a 0.6 MOS point improvement. Since MOS (Mean Opinion Score) is usually computed on a scale from 1-5, .6 is a significant number. The second graph, on the upper right is the bitrate of all videos delivered, and it shows about a 12% bitrate reduction.
The bottom chart presents the average iPhone watch time for the different codecs used in Facebook Reels and shows that AV1 watch time went up to about 70% within the first week after rollout. This doesn’t seem to mean that AV1 increased watch time; rather, it seems to show that a significant number of devices were able to play AV1, which is how AV1 delivered the MOS improvement and bitrate reductions shown in the top two charts.
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SLIDE FROM META’S RYAN LEI SPEAKING ON SCALING AV1 END-TO-END DELIVERY AT META.
Lei’s talk was about 18 minutes long, and there’s a lot more useful data and observations than I’ve presented here. Again, here’s the link – https://bit.ly/Lei_AV1. If you’re considering deploying AV1 for VOD encoding in your organization, you’ll find the encoding-related portions of Lei’s talk illuminating.

ASICs are able to deliver video quality on par with SW encoders with significantly improved power efficiency. Because of the rapid commoditization of video processing, rising energy costs, and pollution concerns, Video Processing ASICS are inevitable.”
David Ronca

What about live? Lei didn’t address it, but you can take some guidance from the fact that Meta recently announced their own Video Processing ASIC. After the announcement, David Ronca, Director, Video Encoding at Meta, commented that “ASICs are able to deliver video quality on par with SW encoders with significantly improved power efficiency. Because of the rapid commoditization of video processing, rising energy costs, and pollution concerns, Video Processing ASICS are inevitable.”
At NETINT, we’ve been shipping transcoders based upon custom encoding ASICs since 2019 and have real market validations of Ronca’s comments. While software encoding may be appropriate for VOD, ASIC based transcoders are superior, if not essential, for live transcoding.
Back on Lei’s talk, whether you’re distributing VOD or live AV1 streams, Lei’s descriptions of the challenges of AV1 delivery to mobile will be instructive to all.
Discover more here:
https://netint.com/
#Meta #Netflix #VideoAtScale #AV1 #ScalingDelivery #CodecComparison #EncodingLadder #MobileStreaming #VideoQuality #LiveTranscoding

Salam Everyone 👋 We are building MyRizq! and the offical beta is out! https://myrizq.com/
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Salam Everyone 👋
We are relaunching MyRizq! There have been a few technical issues however they are now fully resolved! https://myrizq.com/
You are invited to join MyRizq. Find Halal Stocks, Keep track of your spending habits, Determine your Net worth, and Automate your Zakat. Your Rizq all in one place!
MyRizq is a Muslim personal finance app designed to help you manage your finances in accordance with your Islamic principles.
Stay tuned insha’Allah! We have a lot planned to help us Muslims get a better understanding of finances. We are very excited to have you board on this journey with us 🚀!
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Salam Everyone 👋
We are relaunching MyRizq! There have been a few technical issues however they are now fully resolved! https://myrizq.com/
You are invited to join MyRizq. Find Halal Stocks, Keep track of your spending habits, Determine your Net worth, and Automate your Zakat. Your Rizq all in one place!
MyRizq is a Muslim personal finance app designed to help you manage your finances in accordance with your Islamic principles.
Stay tuned insha’Allah! We have a lot planned to help us Muslims get a better understanding of finances. We are very excited to have you board on this journey with us 🚀!
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🥇 It’s not just investors and jewelry buyers who stockpile gold: The global central banks hold 20% of all gold ever mined.
🧐 Why do banks consider gold a crucial component of their financial reserves?
🟡 Gold helps maintain a balanced foreign exchange reserve by mitigating currency risks.
🟡 Investing in gold safeguards banks against the depreciation of standard currencies, especially the US dollar, which can be impacted by inflation or other factors.
🟡 Gold is a great means of portfolio diversification. When the dollar’s value decreases, gold prices tend to increase, offering protection against market fluctuations.
❓Why did banks switch from selling to buying?
Between early 1990s and late 2000s, central banks were net sellers of gold due to good macroeconomic conditions and a downward trend in gold prices.
However, their attitudes changed following the 1997 Asian financial crisis and later, the 2007–08 financial crisis. Every year since 2010, central banks have been net buyers of gold.
❓Why are emerging markets among the largest gold buyers?
🔵 Emerging economies like Russia, China, India and Turkey have accumulated gold reserves to protect themselves against financial and geopolitical uncertainties that affect popular traditional currencies.
🔵 In contrast, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the UK were the largest gold sellers from 1999 to 2021.
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https://preview.redd.it/w3rs3ca5fe4b1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=287820022ea3c6068c7fef8bc8898150b3014f05
Do you consider gold a stable asset for trading?

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

With the 2024 first launch of the Rocket Lab Mega Constellation Launcher—The Neutron—fast approaching, I decided it is high time for a more up-to-date DD on Rocket Lab. A lot is happening in the industry, the company, and the world. I have decided to dive into the future, fundamentals, industry, funding, financials, dreams, and of course, the memes of the aspiring space company. Now, I am posting my DD into both of the Rocket Lab subreddit, as I am new to writing DD and I want to hit as wide of an audience as I can. One disclaimer (for those who do not like stock talk), this DD is not meant to encourage buying of the stock, nor is it financial advice or a stock-only DD, I merely want to dive into this company and simply spark some discussion on it!
Now, Rocket Lab is a private aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck and is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with additional facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Rocket Lab specializes in the development and launch of small rockets capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab—self-designated as a leader in launch and space systems—is a company that has a chance at becoming a highly profitable giant over the next decade and beyond. In my honest opinion, Rocket Lab currently thrives off of the crumbs of the current space industry ecosystem. With Space X increasingly focused upon one goal—thanks to their controversial, yet nevertheless, fearless leader—being Mars, Rocket Labs can (and in my opinion will) become one of the go-to space companies for low earth orbit launches in the near term and in the long-term become one of the go-to space company for launches between the Moon, Venus, and Mars as well. Rocket Lab currently lives off of the crumbs left behind by NASA, Space X, and the United States military-industrial complex.
Like these two legends from the movie War Dogs, Rocket Lab is determined to become the go-to space company for transporting all types of goods into orbit. For those of you who have not seen the movie (I personally highly recommend it), essentially, when these two start their arms-dealing company, they focus upon all of the small contracts that the government is putting out for arms supplies. The contracts that the big players are ignoring, due to their small sizes, even so, these small contracts are worth hundreds of thousands to low millions. Now, this is where Rocket Lab currently lies in the industry.
\"A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not [about] political prestige or military power. This new race involves the whole human species in a contest against time.\" - Ben Bova
Now, before I dive into everything here, I need every to understand that this industry is on the verge of immense change and rapid evolution. We are currently in the first stage of the world’s Second Space Race. As a student of History, I can confidently tell you that there are murmurings within the historical community, that this is the case, beginning with the creation and success of Space X’s first reusable rocket: the Falcon 9. On December 21st of 2015, when the first Falcon 9 was launched and the landing was successful with the first stage fully recovered, the race began. In the same way that there is no single company above all others in the airline, shipping & transportation, or car manufacturing industries, is the same reason I do not believe that Space X will alone run the space industry’s transportation needs. There is plenty of room for companies like Rocket Lab to fill the gaps Space X cannot and in a decade’s time, there will be plenty of room for even more companies. Yet, there are no companies that are even close to competing with Space X—other than Rocket Lab—at this time. Now, I won’t go deeply into most of these competitors in this deep dive, but to be short, Astra is on the verge of total failure, Virgin Galactic has been playing an entirely different game—space tourism, which there is a massive market for, just perhaps won’t be penetrated by them—they likewise seem to be failing. While Blue Origin has been playing a strong game and Space X an even stronger one, albeit more and more focused solely on Mars as the years go on.
Here you can see the 1-year charts of Rocket Lab, Astra, Virgin, and Boeing for reference, as you can see, these charts speak volumes. Rocket Lab has been having a tough year but has found a nice bottom and is consistently bouncing from lows in the $3.6-4 range. While Astra has been reduced to a penny stock, with their future unknown. Virgin Galactic is only maintaining below Rocket Lab’s share price, partly due to the large number of Retail investors that do not know much and refuse to let it die, coupled with a small hope that the company can recover in the coming years. Boeing is here for reference as to what a successful, large-cap company involved in a similar industry (and the space industry as well), should look like over the course of a decent year.
Now, there are a few assumptions that I am making that we need to cover before diving into the real DD: Whether it be because we live in the beginnings of a second Space Race (fueled by privatized space companies and the world’s governments) or because of technological advancement and a rising interest in space, the increase in rocket launches, space development (in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars), and the lowering costs of space launches… it will become exponentially cheaper, easier, and faster to launch into orbit and the industry as a whole will have a massive boom—akin, in a way, to the industrial revolution—over the mid-to-late 2020s into the early 2030s. With the mid-to-end 2030s and early 2040s, we will see massive developments in terms of low-Earth orbit manufacturing facilities, tourist destinations, and stations, as well as settlements on the Moon for mining and refueling for greater exploration and colonization of the Sol System as a whole.
Now these are in part assumptions, but I think once one does the research and looks at the fact, all of this is very achievable. Even if it does not occur in this way, you can shift the dates by an additional decade and every time you do, the more likely, easier, and cheaper it all becomes.
Rocket Lab's business model revolves around providing cost-effective and frequent access to space for small satellite operators. The company aims to simplify the process of deploying satellites by offering dedicated launches on its Electron rocket. Rocket Lab operates as an end-to-end service provider, handling the entire launch process from mission planning and payload integration to launch and on-orbit operations.

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and an on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.
The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some edits to spelling and fixed two mistakes pointed out by commenters

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

With the 2024 first launch of the Rocket Lab Mega Constellation Launcher—The Neutron—fast approaching, I decided it is high time for a more up-to-date DD on Rocket Lab. A lot is happening in the industry, the company, and the world. I have decided to dive into the future, fundamentals, industry, funding, financials, dreams, and of course, the memes of the aspiring space company. Now, I am posting my DD into both of the Rocket Lab subreddit, as I am new to writing DD and I want to hit as wide of an audience as I can. One disclaimer (for those who do not like stock talk), this DD is not meant to encourage buying of the stock, nor is it financial advice or a stock-only DD, I merely want to dive into this company and simply spark some discussion on it!
Now, Rocket Lab is a private aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck and is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with additional facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Rocket Lab specializes in the development and launch of small rockets capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab—self-designated as a leader in launch and space systems—is a company that has a chance at becoming a highly profitable giant over the next decade and beyond. In my honest opinion, Rocket Lab currently thrives off of the crumbs of the current space industry ecosystem. With Space X increasingly focused upon one goal—thanks to their controversial, yet nevertheless, fearless leader—being Mars, Rocket Labs can (and in my opinion will) become one of the go-to space companies for low earth orbit launches in the near term and in the long-term become one of the go-to space company for launches between the Moon, Venus, and Mars as well. Rocket Lab currently lives off of the crumbs left behind by NASA, Space X, and the United States military-industrial complex.
Like these two legends from the movie War Dogs, Rocket Lab is determined to become the go-to space company for transporting all types of goods into orbit. For those of you who have not seen the movie (I personally highly recommend it), essentially, when these two start their arms-dealing company, they focus upon all of the small contracts that the government is putting out for arms supplies. The contracts that the big players are ignoring, due to their small sizes, even so, these small contracts are worth hundreds of thousands to low millions. Now, this is where Rocket Lab currently lies in the industry.
\"A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not [about] political prestige or military power. This new race involves the whole human species in a contest against time.\" - Ben Bova
Now, before I dive into everything here, I need every to understand that this industry is on the verge of immense change and rapid evolution. We are currently in the first stage of the world’s Second Space Race. As a student of History, I can confidently tell you that there are murmurings within the historical community, that this is the case, beginning with the creation and success of Space X’s first reusable rocket: the Falcon 9. On December 21st of 2015, when the first Falcon 9 was launched and the landing was successful with the first stage fully recovered, the race began. In the same way that there is no single company above all others in the airline, shipping & transportation, or car manufacturing industries, is the same reason I do not believe that Space X will alone run the space industry’s transportation needs. There is plenty of room for companies like Rocket Lab to fill the gaps Space X cannot and in a decade’s time, there will be plenty of room for even more companies. Yet, there are no companies that are even close to competing with Space X—other than Rocket Lab—at this time. Now, I won’t go deeply into most of these competitors in this deep dive, but to be short, Astra is on the verge of total failure, Virgin Galactic has been playing an entirely different game—space tourism, which there is a massive market for, just perhaps won’t be penetrated by them—they likewise seem to be failing. While Blue Origin has been playing a strong game and Space X an even stronger one, albeit more and more focused solely on Mars as the years go on.
Here you can see the 1-year charts of Rocket Lab, Astra, Virgin, and Boeing for reference, as you can see, these charts speak volumes. Rocket Lab has been having a tough year but has found a nice bottom and is consistently bouncing from lows in the $3.6-4 range. While Astra has been reduced to a penny stock, with their future unknown. Virgin Galactic is only maintaining below Rocket Lab’s share price, partly due to the large number of Retail investors that do not know much and refuse to let it die, coupled with a small hope that the company can recover in the coming years. Boeing is here for reference as to what a successful, large-cap company involved in a similar industry (and the space industry as well), should look like over the course of a decent year.
Now, there are a few assumptions that I am making that we need to cover before diving into the real DD: Whether it be because we live in the beginnings of a second Space Race (fueled by privatized space companies and the world’s governments) or because of technological advancement and a rising interest in space, the increase in rocket launches, space development (in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars), and the lowering costs of space launches… it will become exponentially cheaper, easier, and faster to launch into orbit and the industry as a whole will have a massive boom—akin, in a way, to the industrial revolution—over the mid-to-late 2020s into the early 2030s. With the mid-to-end 2030s and early 2040s, we will see massive developments in terms of low-Earth orbit manufacturing facilities, tourist destinations, and stations, as well as settlements on the Moon for mining and refueling for greater exploration and colonization of the Sol System as a whole.
Now these are in part assumptions, but I think once one does the research and looks at the fact, all of this is very achievable. Even if it does not occur in this way, you can shift the dates by an additional decade and every time you do, the more likely, easier, and cheaper it all becomes.
Rocket Lab's business model revolves around providing cost-effective and frequent access to space for small satellite operators. The company aims to simplify the process of deploying satellites by offering dedicated launches on its Electron rocket. Rocket Lab operates as an end-to-end service provider, handling the entire launch process from mission planning and payload integration to launch and on-orbit operations.

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square-foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX, and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating a strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder, and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.
​
The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some fixes to some mistakes I wrote

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American swimmer Lia Catherine Thomas, 22, was born in 1998 or 1999 and is a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Sports Illustrated dubbed Thomas "America's most controversial athlete", an argument on transgender women in sports" about her athletic accomplishments as a trans woman in 2021 and 2022. If you want to know about the swimmer, Lia Thomas height, parents, career, world record, weight, net worth, and other details.