The fairing described by Rocket Lab as a world-first for a commercial rocket has been delivered to Wallops Island and transported to the Neutron Assembly and Integration Complex, where it will undergo inspections and final preparations.
Engineers and technicians will now carry out a series of checks before the fairing is sent for further pre-launch testing at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3, located nearby.
Rocket Lab said the arrival of the Hungry Hippo marks an important milestone in the lead-up to Neutron’s debut, which is expected to introduce a new generation of reusable launch vehicles to the global space industry.
The company is positioning Neutron around a “launch, return, and launch again” model, similar to commercial aviation, with the aim of reducing costs and increasing launch frequency for government and commercial customers.
Neutron will be the world’s largest reusable rocket made from carbon composite materials and will be capable of carrying up to 13,000 kilograms of payload into orbit. The vehicle is being designed to support missions ranging from national security and space science to satellite internet constellations and Earth observation.
The Hungry Hippo fairing is a key part of that design. Unlike conventional rockets, where the fairing halves separate and fall away during ascent, Neutron’s fairing remains attached to the rocket for the entire mission.
The two halves open and close in space to deploy the payload, then stay with the vehicle for its return to Earth – a first for a reusable commercial rocket.
Rocket Lab said this approach simplifies operations, avoids the need to recover hardware from the ocean, and supports a high-rate launch service.
The Neutron rocket is intended to provide a more cost-effective and responsive launch option for both commercial and government customers, as the global space industry faces growing demand and pressure on existing launch capacity.