Rocket Lab USA, Inc. shares experienced a significant after-hours surge, climbing 5.09%. The movement occurred in the post-market session on Thursday.

The primary catalyst for the sharp rise was the company's announcement that it has been selected by NASA to provide three dedicated Electron launches for two separate science missions. Rocket Lab will launch the PolSIR mission to study ice clouds and the TSIS-2 mission to conduct Sun-Earth energy science, with launches scheduled from early 2027. This contract win underscores Rocket Lab's position as a reliable launch provider for critical government missions and contributes to its growing backlog.

The positive momentum was further supported by a technical rebound from oversold conditions following consecutive sessions of decline. Additional factors contributing to investor sentiment include the company's recent addition to the Nasdaq-100 Index, enhancing its visibility, and an analyst upgrade from KeyBanc to overweight with a $135 price target. Rocket Lab's recent successful execution of a tactically responsive space mission for the U.S. Space Force also validated its operational capabilities.