Rocket Lab officially opened Launch Complex 3 at the Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, a purpose‑built pad and recovery site to support testing, launches and first‑stage landings of its Neutron medium‑lift rocket as the vehicle progresses toward debut.
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The new Wallops pad establishes dedicated U.S. infrastructure for Rocket Lab’s Neutron, a key step as the vehicle moves toward a maiden flight that Rocket Lab says is still on track for year‑end 2025.
LC‑3 is configured to support not just launches but landing and recovery operations, complementing Rocket Lab’s plan to retrofit a 400‑ft vessel for Neutron booster recovery and enabling reusability demonstrations at scale (Bollinger ship retrofit).
The opening follows a sustained operational cadence from Rocket Lab — including its recent 70th Electron flight — and adds East Coast pad capacity at a time when U.S. launch infrastructure is under pressure from rising commercial and national‑security demand (70th Electron milestone, Space Coast capacity pressures).
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Rocket Lab Opens Launch Complex 3, Advancing Neutron Toward First Flight • SpaceWatch Africa
Rocket Lab opens launch complex for Neutron rocket • broadcastprome.com
Rocket Lab opens Launch Complex 3 at Wallops to support Neutron launches • NASA Spaceflight
Rocket Lab Unveils New Launch Complex for Neutron Rocket at Wallops Island • news.ssbcrack.com
Rocket Lab opens new Wallops pad as it prepares for first Neutron launch • DefenseNews.com
Rocket Lab Opens Launch Complex 3 for Neutron Rocket at Wallops Island • orbitaltoday.com
Rocket Lab inaugurates Neutron launch pad • SpaceNews.com
(ES) Rocket Lab inaugurated Launch Complex 3, a crucial milestone on the road to Neutron’s first launch • actualidadaeroespacial.com
Rocket Lab Opens Launch Complex 3 to Advance Neutron Toward First Launch • rocketlabcorp.com