Rocket Lab's expansion into European space sovereignty

Rocket Lab announced its planned acquisition of Iridium Communications for $8 billion to become an integrated space company.

In early July, Rocket Lab announced it would acquire Iridium Communications for $8 billion. The company said the deal would turn it into an integrated space company, putting it on a path similar to its larger competitor SpaceX.

Rocket Lab is a New Zealand and American manufacturer of smaller launch vehicles such as the Electron rocket.

Rocket Lab establishes German subsidiary in Munich

Rocket Lab acquired Mynaric, a German optical laser communication startup, with approval from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Rocket Lab acquired Mynaric, a Munich-based startup specializing in optical laser communication, after receiving approval from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs in the spring. The ministry made the approval conditional on Mynaric's intellectual property, production, and research and development of key technologies and products remaining in Germany and Europe.

Rocket Lab said Mynaric would continue producing its optical terminals and developing future technologies for optical communication. The company also said it would apply its own manufacturing and supply chain expertise to increase Mynaric's capacities and efficiency and serve growing demand in Europe.

The acquisition was part of a broader German expansion. Rocket Lab founded Rocket Lab Germany GmbH, headquartered in Munich and registered with the local court in mid-April. The company stated that the goal was to enable Europe's access to sovereign space capabilities and to explore opportunities for manufacturing satellites, payloads and components in Germany. The subsidiary will also promote Rocket Lab's Electron and Neutron launch services.