Rocket Lab reveals ocean platform for Neutron rocket landings at sea

Californian company Rocket Lab USA, Inc has revealed details about ‘Return On Investment’, the ocean landing platform for Neutron launchers returning to Earth for re-use

‘Return On Investment’ is a 122m modified barge that will be customised to enable landings at sea for the company’s reusable Neutron rocket. Modifications will include autonomous ground support equipment to capture and secure the landed Neutron, blast shielding to protect equipment during Neutron landings, and station-keeping thrusters for precise positioning.

The Company has acquired the barge; construction of ‘Return On Investment’ will take place throughout 2025, and it expects the barge to enter service in 2026.

Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket is a reusable carbon composite medium-lift launch vehicle being developed to meet the demand for single and multi-satellite constellation deployment, high assurance national security missions, and cargo to various Earth orbits, as well as lunar and interplanetary exploration, the company says. Capable of deploying payloads up to 15,000 kg, the reusable, 43m Neutron is being brought to the market at a rapid development pace on the foundation of Rocket Lab’s industry leadership as one of the world’s most frequent and reliable launch providers.

“We’re working hard to bring Neutron online with one of the fastest development schedules in history for a new rocket, because we know medium-lift launch opportunities are limited and space access is being stifled,” said Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab Founder and CEO. “Neutron’s debut launch planned for later this year will help to ease that bottleneck, and our new landing platform will open space access even further by enabling even more mission opportunities that require maximum Neutron performance.”

Rocket Lab currently expects Neutron to make its debut launch from NASA’s Wallops Island flight centre in Virginia in the second half of 2025.

Neutron can perform two reusable mission profiles depending on mission requirements. This includes Return To Launch Site (RTLS) missions for Neutron first stage propulsive landings at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island. The second reusable mission profile, a Down Range Landing (DRL) manoeuvre, is intended to maximise Neutron’s performance and will result in Neutron’s precise propulsive landing at sea on the landing platform.

Operated out of the US East Coast, ‘Return On Investment’ is built on a modified barge – the ‘Oceanus’ supplied by Canal Barge Inc., a New Orleans-based, private marine transportation company, says Rocket Lab.