1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: The information provided in this program is of a general 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: nature and is not intended to be personalized financial advice. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: We encourage you to seek appropriate advice from a qualified 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: professional to suit your individual circumstances. We're inside Rocket Labs 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Mission Control and Auckland's to film a live launch. While 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: this is a first for us, it's not for them. 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: This is Electron's fiftieth flight. The man who built it 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: says it's just getting started. 9 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: Not trying to be arrogant or anything. But you know, 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: we plan to win here and we'll continue to scale 11 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: and we want to keep that graph line pointing skywards. 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 2: You know, the team here at Rocket Lab is incredible 13 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 2: and I can put my hand on my heart now 14 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: and say they are the best in the world because 15 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: we have the statistics to prove it. 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: It's five am on a Friday in New Zealand and 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: Rocket Labs present and past employees and their families are 18 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: here to watch its fiftieth Electron launch. The mission team 19 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: are laser focused. They know the stakes are higher than ever. 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: Ten nine so six BHI four. 21 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 3: MCD. 22 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: In just seven years, Rocket Lab's Electron has become the 23 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: fastest commercially developed rocket to reach fifty launches, beating SpaceX 24 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: and its Falcon nine by just a few months. 25 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 4: The company started. 26 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: Launching the twelve meter Electron from its own site in 27 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: New Zealand's Marchia Peninsula. Neick has been in twenty eighteen. 28 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: This is where it started. 29 00:01:56,120 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 3: Bye four three two one, liftoff, liftoff confirm p calls. 30 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 4: Clear the band. 31 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: They've got the hang of it now and aiming to 32 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: launch a record twenty two rockets this year alone between 33 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: its launch sites in New Zealand and the United States. 34 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: Michael Pearson is the voice behind the countdown. He's been 35 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: here for every Electron launch. 36 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: Feels good. Yeah, it's a pretty big milestone. Hasn't really 37 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: sunk in yet, but yeah, give it time. Once I 38 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:35,839 Speaker 2: have a nap, maybe it'll feel good. 39 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: He's been at mission control since nine pm the night before. 40 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: Rocket Labs Electron open space for business by putting downward 41 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: pressure on the price to launch with its carbon composite, 42 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: smaller vehicle powered by a three D printed engine. Although 43 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: it's cadence is still far behind the leader SpaceX and 44 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: it's total three hundred and fifty five launchers with much 45 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: heavier rockets and its three hundred and eighteen Rocket Landers. 46 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: Rocket Labs yet to fully master reusability with Electron, but 47 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: its next rocket, Neutron, is building that in from the beginning. 48 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: This company is taking everything it's learned with its first 49 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: rocket to go bigger and better. The forty three meter 50 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:24,119 Speaker 1: high medium lift rocket will carry thirteen thousand kilograms worth 51 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: of payloads to low worth orbit, forty three times that 52 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: of Electron. The cost of building it is in the 53 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: tens of millions, and it's been delayed into next year. 54 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: But the company has one billion US dollars worth of orders. 55 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: In its backlog and just signed a ten launch deal 56 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: with Japan's Inspected. I caught up with Rocket Labs founder 57 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,839 Speaker 1: and CEO Sir Peter Beck, just before. 58 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 4: He left for Japan. 59 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: In this interview, the chief engineer takes a look down 60 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: launch memory lane and points out who he plans to 61 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: prove wrong next. Well, Sir Peter, thank you for having 62 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: us on today. Always in to be yet, oh, I 63 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: thank thanks very much. Have you got used to that yet? 64 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: It's still still. 65 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: Very old, very old. 66 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 4: Indeed, I was going to Curtsey when you came. 67 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: Please do I don't think I'd be very good at it, 68 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: but look, fifty launches, congratulations. It's not just a number though, 69 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: As a Peter Electron is the fastest commercial developed rocket ever, 70 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: even beating SpaceX to it. But take us behind that 71 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: number into the operation. What has actually been required from 72 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: you as a leader of this company and your team 73 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: and the engineering innovation that's gone on. 74 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: To achieve it. 75 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 76 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: So, I mean everybody sees the rocket, right, but as 77 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 2: you kind of allude to, there's just so much behind it. 78 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: And the one thing I would say is, like the 79 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: very first rocket that we put on the pad, if 80 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: you if you sat the first and the fiftieth beside 81 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: each other, they look the same. And I think that's 82 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 2: that's kind of key to the success here, as we 83 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: didn't put a minimum viable product on the pad for 84 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 2: some promotion, you know. We put something there that was 85 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: going to be the enduring thing that was going to work, 86 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: and you know, and and that's been very successful for us, 87 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: and we've been able to scale it, scale it very successfully. 88 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 2: But I think what a lot of people underestimate is 89 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: the real hard thing here is not building one rocket. 90 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: It's actually building many meny me over and over again 91 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: and making sure they launch reliably. That is just it's 92 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: hard to describe how immensely difficult that is. I mean, 93 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: the product is very complicated, but all of the stuff, 94 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: and you know, all I meant in calling it boring 95 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 2: stuff because it's not, but all of the supply chain 96 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 2: and logistics and we're constructions and er P m RP systems, 97 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: Like there's just so much goes in behind all that, 98 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,119 Speaker 2: you know, to make like a fifty number. 99 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 4: Does any of it get easier by fifty? 100 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: Some gets easier, some gets harder. You know, by the 101 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: time you're at fifty. You know, there's some processes that 102 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 2: are very very well developed in some things. You know, 103 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: they're very very well controlled. Launch day is just the 104 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: same as number one. Like launch day is just as 105 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: kind of stressful as the very first rocket. 106 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 4: Do you have a ritual on launch day that keeps 107 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 4: you calm? 108 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: I struggle on launch day. You know generally you still 109 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: at fifty absolutely, because I mean, customers are relying on 110 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 2: you just so much. Like whether it's a commercial customer, 111 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: their business could be on the line, whether it's a 112 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: national security customers, people's lives could be on the line. 113 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: So you launches never you know, a low sum game 114 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: like it is, it is always incredibly important. 115 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: I know you though, and you will be thinking about 116 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: the next fifty, probably the next fifty after that. So 117 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: in your long term mindset, where does fifty launches actually sit? 118 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 4: Is it still the infancy of everything that Rocket Lab 119 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 4: has ahead of it yet? 120 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely, Like will continue to scale and we want 121 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 2: to keep that graph line pointing skywards, so we'll continue 122 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: to scale. And you know, I would say that part 123 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: of Electron also is providing it a new capability. So 124 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: the market has to scale with us. And you know, 125 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 2: this year we sold the most amount of rockets we've 126 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: ever sold, and next year is shaping up to be 127 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: the same. So you know, can you produce them fast enough? 128 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: But there's also you know, does the market growth continue 129 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: to keep pace with you? 130 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to talk to you about that a little 131 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: bit later on, specifically on credibility and sort of your 132 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: government contracts there as well. But just allong the engineering 133 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: of this, like you've alluded to, we shouldn't actually underestimate 134 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: how hard this is. Last time we spoke, you called 135 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: this and assault on physics every single day. We know 136 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: that so many other small launch vehicle operators have failed. 137 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 4: So why specifically has the Electron succeeded? 138 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: Well, I think the thing is a number of reasons. One, 139 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: we built a product that the customer wanted, which sounds obvious, 140 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: but it's not always in the space industry. Two, we 141 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: built a product that was scalable from day one, So 142 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: the engineering decisions that we made were made around how 143 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 2: can we produce this over and over again? How can 144 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: we make sure this is the most reliable thing? And 145 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 2: then I would say that Donor and deeds to make 146 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: being the underdog, never the preordained winner of the small 147 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: launch race. We went up against folks that were immensely 148 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: more well funded than us, and well, you know, well 149 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 2: resourced in US, and sometimes that's a great thing. And 150 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: you know, the team here at Rocket Lab is incredible 151 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: and I can put my hand on my heart now 152 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: and say they are the best in the world because 153 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: we have the statistics to prove it. But but honestly, 154 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: it's it's the team and and that you know, the 155 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: pure grit in the determination of everybody that that that 156 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: that makes it through. 157 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: Did you ever doubt it throughout that journey, doubt that 158 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: we would be this globally successful and hp fifty. 159 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: Well, I think as an entrepreneur, if you have those doubts, 160 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: then you quit. So no, not trying to be arrogant 161 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: or anything, but you know, we were playing to win here, 162 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: we're not. We're not playing to kind of you know, 163 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 2: fudge around the edges where where we're looking to win. 164 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: Electrons know one for having democratized space, for putting pressure 165 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: on the price to access space. Do you have any 166 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: figures on just how much that price is reduced in 167 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: the smallest space. 168 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, So when we started with the Electron launched vehicle, 169 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 2: the price to get a small payload, say two hundred 170 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: kg payload to orbit was somewhere between thirty five and 171 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: fifty million US dollars. More generally sort of in that 172 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: fifty million dollars fifty million US dollar range, the average 173 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 2: sticker price for an Electron rocket is seven point five million. 174 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: So you know, as a massive change and massive shift, 175 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: and of course that that creates totally new opportunities in space. 176 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 4: It's not just about democratization though, is it. 177 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: What Electron is also enabled as advances and other things 178 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: like science, defense and other technology. 179 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 4: Can you talk me through what you've seen and what 180 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 4: you're proud of in that. 181 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, look at the missions. So, I mean 182 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 2: the last two missions that we just launched more than 183 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 2: a few days and a week ago, two really important 184 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: climate change missions for NASA measuring you know, the heat 185 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 2: rejection out of the poles to understand understand how the 186 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 2: ice caps are melting and see the a rises. I mean, 187 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: you saw it on the sign when you walked in. Here. 188 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: We go to space to improve life on all Earth, 189 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 2: and that is we do that every day. And you 190 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 2: know that one mission alone, you know, should be enough. 191 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: But we have fifty of those missions of well footy 192 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 2: nine of those missions that all have massive, massive impact. 193 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 4: Do you have a favorite? Is that like asking me 194 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 4: to be brutal child? 195 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 2: So, so the favorite for me is very personal in 196 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,119 Speaker 2: the fact that my dream as a kid and Invercargo 197 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: was to go and work Vanessa. And you know, when 198 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 2: we got to fly the first NASA mission, the first 199 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: Naessa payload for the VCLS contract that we won, that 200 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 2: was very special because it was like it was it 201 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 2: was like I didn't get to work Vanessa, but I 202 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: got to fly their stuff a little bit better, a 203 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: little bit better. Yeah, yeah, yeah, So so yeah, it 204 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 2: was that one was very very personal in that respect 205 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 2: because it was very raally. Do you have these moments 206 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: where you kind of go it didn't expect so, but 207 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 2: that was one. 208 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 4: I kind of view this all as the new SaaS model. 209 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: We hear a lot about software as a service, but 210 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: this is space as a service, and you even have 211 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: not only NASA, but government's coming to you more so 212 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: now for endo end missions. 213 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 4: Look at the Doctor Hayes mission for example. 214 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: Tell me about the change and the desires and demand 215 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: that you've witnessed across fifty launchers in the industry and 216 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: how that's ultimately benefiting rocket Lab. 217 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, So. Look, we're always of the view that 218 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 2: an end to end space company was the logical endpoint. 219 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 2: And the very second electron that ever flew had a 220 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: kickstage that had recesses for solar panels to turn it 221 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: into a satellite. So the plan here was always you know, 222 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 2: build rockets first, you need the keys to space first, 223 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 2: then you need the tools once you get to the space, 224 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: so you need the satellites, but ultimately you need the service. 225 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: And that's where we're trying to go is build this 226 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 2: end to end service and it's become really, really obvious, 227 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 2: I would say in the last year or two, with 228 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: Starlink as a good example. So you know, if you're 229 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 2: in the commercial telecoms business from space, you're in a 230 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: very difficult spot right now because it's impossible to keep 231 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 2: up with the ability for someone to build their own 232 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 2: rocket and launch it whenever they need to launch it 233 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 2: and deploy that service. And that's just that is consistent 234 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: across all services in space. Soever you here is like 235 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: the very large space companies in the future are going 236 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 2: to look exactly like rocket Lab. They're going to be 237 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 2: end to end. You can build whatever satellite you want 238 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: to build, you can launch whatever you want to launch, 239 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: and then you can provide that service. 240 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 4: And two thirds of this business is space systems. 241 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: While we're celebrating launching rockets, that's actually only one third 242 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: of your business and your revenue career. You can't celebrate 243 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: as much of the space system's success because a lot 244 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: of it is confidential and customers wouldn't want you to. 245 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: But can you give us some insight into what's actually 246 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: been achieved in the bigger part of the business while 247 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: fifty launchers have been happening. 248 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I mean, we acquired four companies within six 249 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: months of becoming public. Don't recommend that, but it needed 250 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: to be done and it was a very unique time 251 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: in the industry to consolidate. So, you know, we really 252 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 2: build a repertoire of all of the basic key elements 253 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 2: to build whatever spacecraft we need to build. This year, 254 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: we'll see two spacecraft designed built exclusively by rocket Lab 255 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 2: go to Mars, and when they get to Mars, twenty 256 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 2: percent of everything in orbit around Mars we'll have a 257 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: rocket Lab logo on it. So you know, we get 258 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 2: to play in these in these really really important in 259 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 2: fund missions. But you know, as you say, the space 260 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: system is part of the business represents you know, over 261 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: two thirds of the revenue. Once Neutron comes online, that 262 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 2: will probably shift a little bit and then things will 263 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 2: move around a little bit, but you know, it is 264 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 2: really really important element to the business. 265 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: We are definitely going to talk about Neutron, but just 266 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: still quickly on Neutron. What this feels like is a 267 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: real celebration of not Rocket labs success so much as 268 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: it is its credibility. 269 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 4: And what it's achieved there as well. 270 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: You're now getting funding from governments it seems like every 271 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: week in your announcement. Now you just had more funding 272 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: in the US Chips Act, and also some from the 273 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: state of New Mexico. Talk to me about the ramp 274 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: up and credibility and where you think rocket Lab has 275 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: sort of achieved and hit its highest credibility and perhaps 276 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 1: we're in other markets it still has more space to run. 277 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. So I think depending on 278 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: where you sit in the industry in the world, generally 279 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: where accepted as the number two to SpaceX in that sense, 280 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: So and I would say that, yeah, credibility comes with execution. 281 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 2: You know, you can have all the flowery videos you 282 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: want and proclamations of things you're going to do, but 283 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, you actually have to 284 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 2: just do it and do it well. And it's almost 285 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: it's almost like the liberth and the curve in some respects, 286 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: because the bigger you get, the more missions you can do. 287 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 2: The more missions you do, the more credibility you get, 288 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: and so on and so forth. So you know, it 289 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 2: feels like any overnight success, right, you just slave away 290 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: for years and years and years, and then you reach 291 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: the point where you start to get on the hockey 292 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 2: stick and and you know that's that's that's where we 293 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 2: are now. I would say, is that, yeah, we have 294 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: a critical mass. We have a couple of thousand people 295 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 2: and you know, a critical mass of projects and expertise 296 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 2: and quite frankly, reputation and reputation is is earned, especially 297 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 2: in the space industry. You know, it's it's it's earned 298 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 2: with blood, sweat and tears. 299 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: And that curve is that a signal of what's to 300 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: come with neutrol the same speed to fifty. 301 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 2: Well, we certainly hope. So yeah, I mean that that 302 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: is that is the plan, and we're following the exact 303 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: same methodology as we did with with with Electron. You know, 304 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: you may have seen the Archimene's rocket engine going to 305 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 2: test stand and you know that that wasn't that that's 306 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: not you know, a tech demo of a rocket engine 307 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: that came off a production line, and that's kind of 308 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 2: how we roll. So you know, we're following the same 309 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 2: same song sheet as we did with Electron and that's 310 00:15:57,480 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 2: been very successful for us. 311 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 4: Give us an update on neutrol. We know that you've 312 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 4: pushed it out. 313 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: It's the first arch to twenty twenty five Archimedes is 314 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: about to be tested. 315 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 4: What are you still left to do before we can 316 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 4: see it on a launch pan. 317 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: Well, so here's the thing with a rocket program is 318 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: is everybody focuses on the rocket, and I would say 319 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 2: the rocket is like twenty percent of the program. You know, 320 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 2: there's the launch site, all the launch infrastructure, the factories, 321 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 2: the engine test facilities, and all the productionizing of all 322 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: of that stuff. So so you know, there's and it's 323 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 2: not that sexy and it's and it's all kind of 324 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: hidden in the background, but you know, tremendous amount of 325 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: work that's gone on in there. So I mean, the 326 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 2: really exciting kind of milestones, obviously for neutral that everybody's 327 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: just following is obviously Arcnedeese engine big structures rolling out 328 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 2: and kind of the big integrated tests. 329 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 4: But like I. 330 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: Say, it's like it's it's really it's it's really frustrating. 331 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: It's like, you know, you're baking a cake and all 332 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 2: the ingredients in themselves are completely uninteresting, and you know, 333 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 2: when it's all mixed up in a go, it's kind 334 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: of doesn't look that a trade to be the but 335 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: actually when you bring it out of the oven, it's like, 336 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 2: you know, it's done, we. 337 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 4: Want to eat the cake. 338 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: We want to eat that's right, but there's there's just 339 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: so much work and preparation that's gone in before you 340 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 2: know you pull it out of the oven. And that's 341 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: kind of the same deal. 342 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 4: And there's no room for error? Is there really not 343 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 4: in this industry? 344 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 2: No? 345 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: You know. 346 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 2: This is this is kind of and maybe the success 347 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 2: of electron as well as you know, when we designed 348 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 2: that vehicle, we constantly think of every failure mode possible, 349 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 2: like you know, could could could there be a failure 350 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 2: in this area? Could there be a failure in that area? 351 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 2: And we're constantly looking to try and mitigate those failures 352 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 2: before you occur. We don't kind of blindly move forward 353 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 2: on a design without considering every little possible element. 354 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: With neutron, you effectively get to start over on a 355 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 4: new rocket. 356 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: Right. You're probably doing a lot of things with neutron 357 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:51,719 Speaker 1: that you wish you could have or knew how to 358 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: do with electron at the very beginning. You're now having 359 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 1: to build those on secondary with electron, like reusability, and 360 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: we know that neutron has far better unit economics because 361 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: it's massed all bit. 362 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 4: It's load is much higher. 363 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: Does that mean that once Neutron is consistently in play, 364 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: you would look to retire Electron? 365 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 2: No, no, no, Look, Electron is serving a really important 366 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 2: market need and it's a great product, and that market 367 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 2: continues to grow. So yeah, it's true. Electron has been 368 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 2: a wonderful kind of training environment, if you will, for 369 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 2: neutron in a lot of respects, and so much of 370 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 2: electron ports directly across over to neutron. But Electron is 371 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,719 Speaker 2: an amazing product. It enables so many other businesses and 372 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: so many other capabilities. So absolutely not. It is a 373 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 2: critical part of the space industry right now. 374 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: And you're targeting a similar margin on Electron that you 375 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: are a neutron fifty percent, right. 376 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, yep, yep, yep. So we think that's I 377 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: think that's the real sweet spot. And you know, the 378 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: biggest leaver to pull there is really Cadence launch. Cadence 379 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 2: kind of allows us to advertise all of the infrastructure 380 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 2: that requires, you know, to launch anything. 381 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: What's the dream on Cadence? What would you love to 382 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: at least the Electron get to per year? 383 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I mean if we're launching, we're launching twice 384 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 2: a month, the economics exactly where they need to be, 385 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 2: so that that that's that's that's kind of the super 386 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: sweet spot for us. But also, you know, as we 387 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 2: launch more, we get better at building them and the 388 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: cost goes down, so you know, the you know, the 389 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: cadence doesn't need to be some crazy number to be 390 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:23,479 Speaker 2: a really great business, which is which is great. 391 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 4: Let's just finish on competition. 392 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: I know you're a very busy man, and you're probably don't 393 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: pay too much attention to it because you're hustling in here. 394 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 4: You're you've got a lot to do being chief engineer 395 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 4: at this company. 396 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: But SpaceX just had its fourth starship test flights. The 397 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: splashdown was pretty successful. How much attention do you pay 398 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: to that and as any at all, how does that 399 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: kind of up the ante for you and for the 400 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: team in here. 401 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. So I mean, look, there 402 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 2: was it was a great flight. I think I think 403 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 2: everybody was surprised, you know, how how far that that 404 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 2: that that mission got through. So I think I think 405 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 2: it's great with respect to like, how does how does 406 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 2: that affect what we're doing? It's it's it's not really. 407 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 2: I mean, you look, ship is designed for a very 408 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 2: specific purpose, and that is that is to put humans 409 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 2: on Mars, which I think is wonderful. You know, we 410 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: have a very own purpose and mission, and you know, 411 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 2: Electron and Neutron and all the space systems and everything 412 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 2: we do feeds into that directly. So you know, the 413 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 2: space industry is kind of a crazy place in that respect. 414 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 2: You have, you know, you have very flamboyant kind of 415 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 2: characters and missions on their own journey. I mean, you know, 416 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 2: Jeff Bezos has his own journey as well. But I 417 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 2: guess from a Rocket Lab perspective, you know, what we 418 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 2: are really focused on is trying to build a large, 419 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 2: multi generational space company that really does focus on delivering 420 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 2: services and good to the Earth as opposed to other planets. 421 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: When I was in here last you kind of laughed 422 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: off the idea of space tourism, like what Jeff Bezos 423 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: is doing. 424 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 4: You said you didn't want to go to Mars. You 425 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 4: change a view on any of. 426 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 2: Those absolutely not yet. No, I love Earth. Earth is 427 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: the best plan in our Solar system. I'm going to 428 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 2: stay here for while. 429 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, day, Hey, thank you so much, and again congratulations 430 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: on fifty electron launchers. 431 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: Thanks, better sent cheers. 432 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 1: If we look at fifty launchers, the cadence each year 433 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: has been different. You've gone up and then you've had 434 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: some down years. Last year, for example, was a bit 435 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: of a hitch. 436 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 2: What's my question today? You're just going to rub it 437 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 2: in the