LONG BEACH, California, March 31, 2026, 07:13 PDT
- Rocket Lab got the green light from German regulators for its acquisition of Mynaric, and says it’s on track to wrap up the deal in April.
- With the deal, Rocket Lab would fold a laser-communications supplier into its own operations and pick up its first European base in Munich.
- Rocket Lab climbed roughly 6.7% to $61.21 during early U.S. trading Tuesday.
Rocket Lab on Monday announced it had secured clearance from German regulators to acquire Mynaric, removing the last major obstacle to completing the laser-communications acquisition next month. The U.S. space firm’s shares climbed roughly 6.7% in early Tuesday trading.
This deal puts Rocket Lab in the driver’s seat with one of its key laser terminal suppliers—hardware that handles satellite-to-satellite data transfers faster and with more security than traditional radio. For a company targeting massive satellite constellations, that’s crucial. The move also locks in a component linked to $1.3 billion from the U.S. Space Development Agency, and marks Rocket Lab’s European debut.
Timing is working in Rocket Lab’s favor. Just three days back, the company wrapped up its inaugural dedicated launch for the European Space Agency. Now Mynaric’s clearance lands as Germany considers building out a military satellite network with Rheinmetall, OHB, and Airbus—highlighting just how politically fraught sovereign space systems are across Europe.
Back in March 2025, Rocket Lab floated its plan to acquire Mynaric, putting forward a non-binding term sheet as part of Mynaric’s StaRUG restructuring under German law. By August, Mynaric wrapped up that process. Rocket Lab, according to a September SEC filing, went on to lock in a definitive purchase agreement—$75 million upfront, payable in either cash or stock, with another $75 million possible depending on future revenue milestones.
“Receiving regulatory approval is an important milestone,” Chief Executive Peter Beck said. He also noted Rocket Lab’s aim: get optical terminals to government and commercial buyers at the speed and scale they require. Rocket Lab Corporation
Mynaric currently delivers CONDOR Mk3 optical terminals to Rocket Lab for its SDA projects, which span 36 satellites. Following the deal’s close, Rocket Lab plans to keep Mynaric’s headquarters in Munich, maintaining a foothold for German and broader European contracts.
Stifel’s Erik Rasmussen told TipRanks the approval puts Rocket Lab “one step closer” to broadening its role in Germany and Europe’s space business. Rocket Lab, on its end, has argued the deal would tighten its grip on a crucial component and sharpen its pitch to European defense and institutional clients. TipRanks
Closing hasn’t happened yet, just expected. Mynaric stepped into 2025 relying on bridge loans, got slapped with a Nasdaq delisting notice in February, and wrapped up its restructuring after that. That hands Rocket Lab the tougher assignment: fold Mynaric in and ramp up production—no easy task in a supply chain Rocket Lab has already flagged as a headache.
