Rocket Lab launches the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday.

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket carrying the Pentagon’s Space Test Program (STP) S30 mission lifted off from the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia, on Thursday, according to U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command.

S30 has four research and development, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) DiskSat satellites, funded by NASA and developed by Aerospace Corp. as an alternative to cube satellites.

“In the coming days, satellite operators will make initial contact with the deployed satellites to ensure they are functioning nominally,” SSC said. “Originally planned for spring 2026 launch, the combined team worked through a myriad of technical and program management matters to shift STP-S30 five months ahead of the original scheduled date.”

Thursday’s launch was under Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), the service’s program for rapid launches of small, experimental satellites.

“The STP-S30 mission illustrates the flexibility and responsiveness of commercially available launch solutions for placing ground-breaking military space capabilities,” SSC said.

This story was first published by Defense Daily