Rocket Lab has been selected by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to perform a return-to-Earth mission to demonstrate point-to-point delivery of cargo, an idea also floated with SpaceX’s Starship.
The Point-to-Point Delivery (P2PD) Program is in its infancy, but the thought that cargo could be transported to practically anywhere on Earth must be enticing to military leaders. From the FY25 Rocket Cargo justification, “funds invest in Point-to-Point Delivery (P2PD) services. is focused on utilizing vehicles that traverse from or through space to transport DoD materiel anywhere around the world within tactically responsive timelines”. SpaceX’s Starship was awarded a similar contract to investigate Point-to-Point in 2022, reports suggest that Starship would be the go-to for this mission, as SpaceX was indeed awarded a $102 million contract to explore using Starship for this purpose. Neutron will join Starship in investigating the plausibility of this mission.
Rocket Lab is no stranger to DoD contracts; see their HASTE hypersonic test vehicle. Neutron itself has not launched but will be optimized for lifting mega-constellations to orbit, which translates to many payloads at once. The two-stage launch vehicle will use Lox (liquid oxygen) and methane fuel. Both stages will use a new Archimedes engine, with nine engines for the first stage and one for the second stage. Total lift to LEO will be about 13,000 kilograms, which classifies it as a medium-lift rocket.
Having the ability to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth is a definite advantage in warfighting, but also for humanitarian aid delivery to remote areas. The day may come when rockets bring supplies to areas hit by natural disasters, where infrastructure is lacking, or war zones where resupply is difficult and dangerous.
Carter Palmer has long held a keen interest in military matters and aviation. As a FI's space systems analyst he is responsible for updating the reports and analyses within the Space Systems Forecast – Launch Vehicles & Manned Platforms and Space Systems Forecast – Satellites & Spacecraft products.
