Rocket Lab vs Virgin Orbit
Rocket Lab
We open access to space to improve life on Earth
1568 employees · est. 2006 · Long Beach, United States
Virgin Orbit
Opening the skies for small satellite missions, flexible launch services for all
501-1000 employees · est. 2017
Rocket Lab is the older company (2006 vs 2017); Rocket Lab is the larger of the two.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Rocket Lab | Virgin Orbit |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | ||
| Founded | 2006 older | 2017 |
| Headquarters | ||
| Headquarters | Long Beach, United States | Not tracked yet |
| Employees | ||
| Employees | 1568 larger | 501-1000 |
| Industry | ||
| Industry | Manufacturing, Space | Space, Telecom |
| Funding Stage | ||
| Funding Stage | Corporate | Convertible Note |
| Total Funding | ||
| Total Funding | $10.36B | $479.50M |
| Funding Rounds | ||
| Funding Rounds | 14 | 5 |
| Services | ||
| Services | dedicated and rideshare launch options, custom spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite subsystems and components, mission control and ground software solutions, hypersonic suborbital test launches | Not tracked yet |
| Target Customers | ||
| Target Customers | commercial satellite operators, government satellite operators, space agencies, telecommunications companies, research institutions | Not tracked yet |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Taxonomy | Space AccessOrbital RocketsHypersonic TechnologySatellite ConstellationsMission ServicesElectron Launch Vehicle +9 | Small Satellite LaunchLauncherOne SystemSpace AccessCommercial Satellite MissionsGovernment Satellite MissionsPrivate Astronauts +4 |
| Website | ||
| Website | rocketlabusa.com | virginorbit.com |
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a pioneering company in the Manufacturing and Space industries, dedicated to "opening access to space to improve life on Earth." Founded in 2006, this United States-headquartered company specializes in building, launching, and operating rockets and spacecraft tailored for global client...
About Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit, established in 2017, aims to make space more accessible by offering tailored launch services for small satellites through its LauncherOne system. The company's slogan, "Opening the skies for small satellite missions, flexible launch services for all," reflects its commitment to democra...
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Compiled from the BounceWatch company index. We last looked at Rocket Lab on 2 May 2026, and Virgin Orbit on 26 Jul 2024. Where a field is blank here, it means we have not recorded it — not that the answer is zero. How we source and date this.
