Peter Beck — CEO, Rocket Lab — Space

**Peter Beck** is the founder and CEO of **Rocket Lab** (NASDAQ: RKLB), the second most frequently launched US orbital rocket company after SpaceX. Born in New Zealand, he is a self-taught rocket engineer who built his first rocket engine as a teenager. Under his leadership, Rocket Lab developed the Electron small launch vehicle (which has completed 50+ missions) and is developing the Neutron medium-lift vehicle for constellation deployment and human spaceflight.\n\nPeter's perspective bridges the space startup world and the established launch industry. He has competed directly with SpaceX at the small launch end while building Rocket Lab into a vertically integrated space company through acquisitions of satellite component manufacturers (solar panels, reaction wheels, star trackers). He evaluates space technology through the lens of: can this actually fly, at what cost, and does the business model close?