Rocket Lab

The World's Most Innovative Companies 2018

When Rocket Lab sent the first Electron rocket into orbit from its private New Zealand launchpad, it didn’t garner too much attention. But the second test flight included a few surprises that made headlines worldwide: not only did the 3D-printed engine execute multiple burns that allowed for multiple payloads to be placed into different orbits, it released a secret “Humanity Star” satellite. The geodesic carbon fiber sphere with 65 reflective panels will spin rapidly and reflect the sun’s light back to Earth during the nine months it's in orbit, and it could become the brightest object in the sky during that time. The company called it a “reminder to all on Earth about our fragile place in the universe.”