Rocket Lab Buys Iridium for $8 Billion to Build Full-Stack Space Company

Rocket Lab agreed on June 29, 2026 to acquire satellite operator Iridium Communications at $54 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $8 billion. The deal merges Rocket Lab's launch and manufacturing capability with Iridium's 66-satellite low-Earth-orbit constellation and established revenue streams in maritime, aviation, and government sectors. The combined entity would control the full chain: design, build, launch, and operate — a rare vertical integration in commercial spaceflight that addresses margin pressures facing pure-play launch companies.