Rocket Lab’s Bold Step: Hungry Hippo to Join the Reusable Race

Rocket Lab has announced the successful completion of qualification tests for the “Hungry Hippo” fairing, designed for their reusable Neutron rocket. The first model has already been sent to the launch site in Virginia to prepare for the Neutron’s inaugural launch planned for 2026. The “Hungry Hippo” fairing protects the rocket’s payload from atmospheric pressure and temperature during flight. Unlike traditional fairings, which are jettisoned to burn up or fall into the ocean, Rocket Lab’s design allows for their reuse.

The uniqueness of the “Hungry Hippo” lies in its construction: during flight, the fairing flaps open to release the rocket’s second stage, then close again, enabling the Neutron to return to Earth with the fairing intact. This mechanism promises to significantly reduce launch costs.

In May, Rocket Lab released a video showing the “Hungry Hippo” undergoing test trials. The company has delayed the Neutron launch from 2024 and 2025 to 2026, aiming to achieve a successful orbital deployment on the first attempt.

The successful development and testing of the “Hungry Hippo” is an important milestone towards building the Neutron rocket, which will be able to carry heavy payloads into orbit. This is particularly pertinent given the increasing demand for satellite constellations to provide global broadband internet access, requiring thousands of launches to establish an orbital network.