Rocket Lab’s rklb Stock Surges 15% After NASA Confirms Next Mars Mission Payload
Cape Canaveral, FL — Rocket Lab USA (rklb) is on a tear this morning, with shares climbing 15% in premarket trading following a surprise announcement from NASA. The space agency confirmed that Rocket Lab will provide the critical power and propulsion systems for its upcoming Mars Sample Return mission, a contract valued at over $200 million. Investors are betting that rklb’s proven reliability in deep-space hardware positions it as the go-to supplier for high-stakes exploration, potentially triggering a short squeeze as short interest hits 12%. With a backlog now exceeding $1.5 billion and CEO Peter Beck hinting at a new satellite constellation deal, this rally has momentum.