Rocket Lab Launches Experimental Satellites for U.S. Military

On December 18, 2025, at 12:03 a.m. EST, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully launched the "Don't Be Such a Square" mission for the U.S. Space Force from Wallops Island, Virginia. The mission carried four experimental 'DiskSats,' innovative satellites developed by The Aerospace Corporation with funding from NASA.

Each DiskSat measures 40 inches wide by 1 inch thick and is designed to optimize satellite performance, providing more power and surface area for instruments than traditional cubesats. Although the DiskSats are capable of flying at very low altitudes, their inaugural deployment occurred at an altitude of 342 miles, approximately 55.5 minutes after launch.

This launch marked Rocket Lab's 20th mission of 2025, setting a new single-year launch record for the company, which previously stood at 16 launches in 2024. The launch was expedited at the request of the U.S.

Space Force, highlighting the increasing collaboration between commercial space companies like Rocket Lab and military operations.