Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire Iridium Communications in a deal valued at approximately $8 billion, combining cash and stock.
Iridium operates one of the most recognized low-Earth orbit satellite constellations in the world. Its network provides voice and data communications coverage across the entire globe, including oceans, polar regions, and other areas where traditional cell towers simply don’t reach.
Rocket Lab, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker RKLB, has been on an acquisition tear over the past year. The company closed its purchase of Geost for $275 million in August 2025 and announced a deal for Motiv Space Systems slated for 2026. It also acquired Mynaric, a laser communications company, as part of its broader push toward vertical integration across the space supply chain.
Iridium has been valued at a sales multiple of roughly 7.4x in comparative evaluations alongside other satellite communications companies, which gives some context for how the price tag was derived.
Rocket Lab currently boasts a launch contract backlog exceeding $2.2 billion heading into 2026. Adding Iridium’s recurring revenue from satellite communications services would give the company a fundamentally different financial profile, one with more predictable cash flows alongside the lumpier economics of launch contracts.
