Rocket Lab buys Iridium in $8 billion deal, to expand beyond launches

Rocket Lab struck an $8 billion deal to acquire satellite communications provider Iridium Communications on Monday, betting that owning everything from rockets to satellite networks will define the next generation of space companies.

The deal accelerates a long-time push beyond launch services by adding an established satellite network, globally coordinated spectrum and a customer base – capabilities ‌that could ⁠have taken ⁠Rocket Lab several years and billions of dollars to build.