Photo / Rocket Lab"That's Not A Knife" on the launchpad at LC-2. Photo / Rocket LabBy RNZNew Zealand-founded company Rocket Lab has successfully launched its latest space mission for the US Department of Defence. The Haste rocket, called “That’s Not A Knife”, lifted off from Wallops Island in Virginia in the US at 1pm today (NZ time) from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. It was Rocket Lab’s second successful launch of a hypersonic test mission for the US Defence Department’s Defence Innovation Unit, and the seventh Haste rocket launch overall. Rocket Lab said its Haste missions to date have achieved 100% success.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 28, 2026 13:36 UTC