Rocket Lab has postponed the inaugural launch of its reusable Neutron rocket, announced in an after-hours webcast on October 14. The delay stems from air pockets forming between carbon composite layers in the domes at the top and bottom of the first-stage propellant tanks, which weaken structural integrity; the company chose to delay while developing a new manufacturing process. RKLB shares fell 25% that week. CEO Sir Peter Beck said the problem has been solved, but the target is now a 2027 launch without a specific date, and he acknowledged the timeline is "ambitious." The author argues the delay of a few months to a year will have little near-term impact on revenue or profit, since Neutron was always planned to ramp up gradually, and that Rocket Lab will almost certainly earn its first profit next year regardless of a Neutron launch.
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