NASA taps Rocket Lab for three Electron launches as SpaceX marks 1,000th Merlin engine

Rocket Report mid-year recap: NASA awards Rocket Lab three dedicated Electron launches for 2027 (including PolSIR and TSIS-2); SpaceX hits a milestone with the 1,000th Merlin 1D engine amid a rare SXM-11 GEO mission; other items include India’s Vikram-1 test window, NASA delivering Rosalind Franklin braking engines, Isar Aerospace’s German launch with Planet satellites, Atlas V nearing its final flight as Vulcan approaches readiness, and Blue Origin pad cleanup ahead of return to flight; next launches slated for early July.