Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) stock surged 5.95% in intraday trading on Tuesday, following the company's successful completion of its 15th mission this year and positive analyst sentiment.

The space technology company announced the successful launch of the "Owl New World" mission from its Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. This mission, which deployed Synspective's seventh StriX satellite to low Earth orbit, marks the first of 21 new launches in a significant contract with the Japanese Earth-observation company. Rocket Lab CEO Sir Peter Beck highlighted the importance of this achievement, stating, "Precise, direct access to orbit is essential to the iteration and growth of constellations already in space, and I'm proud of the Rocket Lab team for delivering this again and again for Synspective across every launch."

Adding to the positive momentum, Morgan Stanley analysts raised their price target for Rocket Lab stock to $68 per share from $20, citing the company as "a potential alternative to SpaceX in the making." This vote of confidence from Wall Street, combined with the company's demonstrated ability to secure and execute large contracts, appears to have fueled investor enthusiasm. As Rocket Lab continues to establish itself as a key player in the growing commercial space industry, today's stock movement reflects increasing market optimism about the company's future prospects and its potential to compete with industry giants.