Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium in major space industry deal

Rocket Lab, which already has a major launch presence on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, has announced plans to acquire Iridium Communications in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8 billion.

The companies announced Monday that Rocket Lab has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Iridium, a global provider of satellite voice, data, positioning, navigation, and timing services. Under the agreement, Rocket Lab would acquire all outstanding shares of Iridium common stock for $54 per share.

The deal would combine Rocket Lab’s launch and satellite manufacturing capabilities with Iridium’s global satellite communications network, spectrum, and customer base. The companies said the combination would create a more vertically integrated space company capable of designing, building, launching, and operating satellite constellations.

The announcement is locally notable because Rocket Lab operates launch infrastructure on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The company’s Launch Complex 2, used for its Electron rocket, is located at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island. Rocket Lab also has Launch Complex 3 at Wallops for its larger Neutron rocket.

While Rocket Lab has not announced any immediate Wallops-specific impact from the Iridium deal, the proposed acquisition would further expand the company’s role in the commercial space industry.

Iridium serves government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial customers and supports more than 2.55 million active subscribers worldwide.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck called the agreement a defining moment for the space industry, saying the combined company would seek to build on Iridium’s existing network and expand into next-generation satellite communications and space-based services.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to Iridium shareholder approval and required regulatory approvals.