Rocket Lab Readies Photon Spacecraft Ahead of Key LOXSAT Cryogenic Fuel Test Mission

California-based Rocket Lab has completed systems integration for its Photon spacecraft ahead of the upcoming LOXSAT mission with Eta Space and NASA. Designed to showcase in-orbit cryogenic refueling, the system will now complete environmental testing at Rocket Lab's facility in Long Beach before launching atop an Electron rocket from New Zealand early next year.

Until we can get ultra-efficient, next-generation rocket engines into space, the near-term future of ambitious and deep space missions will involve in-orbit refueling. SpaceX will rely on this technology if it ever wants to get its Starship ready for Artemis 3, but Eta Space is at the forefront of developing these kinds of systems. Now it's set to test it in early 2026.

The mission will inform the future design of Eta's planned Cryo-Dock orbiting platform, which will act like a gas station for spacecraft. Designed to be operational by 2030, it would ...