Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) experienced a significant 24-hour surge of 5.89%, with the upward movement extending from the intraday session into after-hours and overnight trading. The rally was part of a broader positive trend for the stock on Tuesday.

The surge was driven by multiple catalysts. A key driver was the company's announcement of a $266 million firm-fixed-price contract award from the U.S. Air Force for suborbital launch vehicles, providing a significant near-term revenue visibility. Concurrently, the stock benefited from a broad rally across the space sector, with peers like SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Iridium Communications also advancing.

Furthermore, continued positive sentiment surrounding Rocket Lab's strategic $8 billion acquisition of Iridium Communications to build a vertically integrated space platform provided fundamental support. The move is also viewed as a technical recovery from recent selling pressure triggered by a neutral analyst initiation and news of CEO share disposals, with the sector-wide strength and new contract win bolstering investor confidence.