Shares of aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider Rocket Lab USA, Inc ( RKLB ). are trading higher in premarket on Monday.

Rocket Lab National Security LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rocket Lab USA ( RKLB ), has reached a key milestone with the successful conclusion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) mission, VICTUS HAZE.

The VICTUS HAZE mission, led by Space Safari and in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), aims to quickly deploy a spacecraft capable of performing rendezvous and proximity operations.

“The ability to build a spacecraft, launch it, and operate it all in-house, on a tactically responsive timeline, is incredibly rare, but with our extensive launch heritage and deep vertical integration across space systems, we’re ideally suited to make this mission a success,” said president and CEO of Rocket Lab National Security, Brad Clevenger.

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“VICTUS HAZE solidifies Rocket Lab as a trusted and highly capable, end-to-end space company that can enable complex missions to serve the needs of the nation,” Clevenger added.

This spacecraft is specifically designed to address space-based threats, ensuring launch readiness within 24 hours. Rocket Lab’s Pioneer spacecraft will be launched aboard the company’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.

Following the successful CDR, the project advances into the production phase. During this phase, the spacecraft and launch vehicle will be integrated and preparations for the ground segment will begin.

The mission aims to showcase the capability to monitor and intercept objects in orbit, strengthening the U.S. Space Force’s capacity to rapidly address potential space threats.

Price Action: RKLB shares are trading higher by 0.72% at $23.72 in premarket at last check Monday.

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