Rocket Report: China may soon attempt booster landing; Rocket Lab does rapid response

Rocket Lab successfully executed the Victus Haze mission last Friday, launching just 16 hours and 42 minutes after receiving the US Space Force’s Notice to Launch. This rapid response capability set a new record, surpassing the previous benchmark by over 10 hours, according to the company. The launch was conducted with minimal advance public notification, with the only official indication being a warning issued to pilots and sailors regarding the rocket's flight path. Unlike most of its missions, Rocket Lab did not provide a livestream for the Victus Haze launch. The report also notes the approaching midpoint of 2026 and questions the potential debut of several new US rockets, including Rocket Lab's Neutron, Stoke Space's Nova, Relativity Space's Terran R, and Astra's Rocket 4, suggesting a low probability of all of them launching this year. The Rocket Report covers information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets and provides a three-launch outlook.