Rocket Lab Poised for STP-S30 Launch with Innovative DiskSat Demonstrations

Electron horizontal on the launch pad the evening before launch // Photo: Ryan Bale

Wallops Island, Virginia — Rocket Lab is preparing to launch the U.S. Space Force’s STP-S30 mission aboard its Electron rocket in the early hours of Thursday, December 18, 2025.

The launch window opens at 05:00 UTC (12:00 a.m. Eastern / 9:00 p.m. Pacific on Dec. 17) from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

Dubbed “Don’t Be Such A Square,” this flight marks the company’s 20ᵗʰ Electron launch of 2025 and the 78ᵗʰ mission overall — a significant operational cadence for a small launch provider in an increasingly busy year.

Mission Overview: STP-S30 and DiskSats

The STP-S30 mission is part of the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP), managed by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and supported by the Rocket Systems Launch Program.

At the core of the mission are four experimental spacecraft known as DiskSats — a novel satellite architecture developed by The Aerospace Corporation in collaboration with NASA’s small spacecraft research efforts. These disk-shaped platforms represent a departure from traditional CubeSat and SmallSat designs and are intended to explore new approaches to maneuverability, power generation, and sustained operations in low Earth orbit.

Following deployment into a ~550-kilometer low Earth orbit, the mission will:

• Test DiskSat maneuverability and attitude control

• Evaluate electric propulsion and orbit-changing capability

• Demonstrate a new satellite dispenser system for precise deployment

• Support secondary experiments including communications and space environment sensing

These demonstrations are designed to inform future spacecraft architectures that require greater agility and resilience in increasingly complex orbital environments.

Why STP-S30 Matters

While STP-S30 is not an operational constellation mission, it carries strategic significance:

• Technology advancement: DiskSats offer insight into alternative spacecraft form factors capable of operating in very low Earth orbit, potentially enabling higher-resolution sensing and shorter mission timelines.

• Responsive launch capability: Rocket Lab’s ability to accelerate the mission’s launch timeline by several months highlights growing confidence in commercial providers for rapid government space access.

• Public-private collaboration: The mission underscores continued cooperation between the U.S. Space Force, NASA, research institutions, and commercial launch providers to mature emerging space technologies more quickly.

Launch Window and Viewing Information

The launch window opens at:

• 05:00 UTC, December 18

• 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Final liftoff timing will depend on weather and range availability at Wallops Island. Rocket Lab is expected to provide live webcast coverage beginning roughly 15–20 minutes before launch.

Rocket Lab’s Expanding Role

Electron has become one of the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rockets, supporting both commercial and government missions. Flights like STP-S30 highlight Rocket Lab’s increasing role in national security and technology demonstration missions, where reliability, schedule flexibility, and precision deployment are critical.

As defense and research priorities shift toward responsive, resilient access to space, Rocket Lab’s Electron program continues to position the company as a key player in the evolving launch landscape.