'The start of a new era': Rocket Lab buying satellite-communications company Iridium for $8 billion

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches South Korea's NEONSAT-1A satellite from New Zealand on Jan. 29, 2026.

California-based launch company Rocket Lab has inked a landmark $8 billion deal to acquire long-time satellite communications giant Iridium.

Rocket Lab has brought a variety of companies into its space systems architecture in recent years, but none of those previous purchases were as notable as the acquisition announced today (June 29). Rocket Lab and Iridium settled on the purchase at $54 per share, equating to an $8 billion deal for the legacy satellite operator.