The U.S. Space Force selects Rocket Lab to compete for its $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program.

Key Takeaways Rocket Lab shares climbed Friday after the U.S. Space Force selected the space rocket company to join its $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program.Under the program, Rocket Lab and four other launch providers can compete for missions,

Rocket Lab USA ( RKLB) is the second-most-successful space stock after SpaceX. It has launched 62 of its Electron rockets into space, successfully deploying 216 satellites into orbit. And like SpaceX, its rockets are reusable, but it has the only reusable small launch vehicle.