Rocket Lab Introduces High-Efficiency Solar Cell to Reduce Reliance on Supply-Constrained Critical Minerals

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  "signal_type": "news",
  "signal_subtype": "launches",
  "detected_at": "2026-09-08T20:20:00+00:00",
  "company": {
    "name": "Rocket Lab",
    "domain": "rocketlabusa.com"
  },
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3358129/0/en/rocket-lab-introduces-high-efficiency-solar-cell-to-reduce-reliance-on-supply-constrained-critical-minerals.html",
    "title": "Rocket Lab Introduces High-Efficiency Solar Cell to Reduce Reliance on Supply-Constrained Critical Minerals",
    "excerpt": "LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the production release of Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Apex, the latest iteration of its next-generation solar cell designed to deliver exceptional efficiency and reliability for space applications. IMM Apex boasts a Beginning of Life solar conversion efficiency of 31.5% and 40% lower cell mass, giving it best-in-class specific power (watts per kilogram) while maintaining excellent radiation hardness and performance over temperature. IMM Apex is free of the germanium substrates used for conventional, multi-junction solar cells produced for the last three decades. By eliminating reliance on this critical mineral, IMM Apex mitigates rising costs and supply chain constraints currently facing the space power industry. Crucially, IMM Apex is a mechanical and electrical drop-in replacement for heritage solar cell products on germanium, meaning customers can integrate it into existing systems without major investments to re-tool for new cell technology. IMM Apex builds on the proven success of Rocket Lab’s IMM cell technology, which powered NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during its historic mission and has been powering satellites on orbit for more than a decade. In addition to being free from germanium supply constraints...",
    "product": "Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Apex",
    "summary": "Rocket Lab has launched Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Apex, a new generation of solar cells designed for space applications, which is now available for production.",
    "location": "Long Beach, California, USA",
    "planning": false,
    "image_url": "https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/f82e86ee-aef3-4cfb-bb0b-118b5ca41bea",
    "confidence": 0.95,
    "product_data": {
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      "full_text": "Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Apex, the latest iteration of its next-generation solar cell",
      "fuzzy_match": false,
      "release_type": "iteration"
    },
    "product_tags": [
      "general_technology",
      "space"
    ],
    "published_at": "2026-09-08T20:20:00Z",
    "location_data": [
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        "city": "Long Beach",
        "state": "California",
        "region": "Northern America",
        "country": "United States",
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    "article_sentence": "Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the production release of Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Apex, the latest iteration of its next-generation solar cell designed to deliver exceptional efficiency and reliability for space applications."
  }
}

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