Rocket Lab's Neutron launch vehicle will not fly until 2027, the company announced Wednesday. The delay stems from an issue discovered during the manufacturing of the rocket's carbon composite structures. This public statement confirms a timeline that many within Rocket Lab and the broader space industry had already anticipated. In August, Rocket Lab suggested it might deliver the first Neutron rocket to its launch pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, before the end of this year. That schedule would have likely pushed the initial flight into 2027 regardless. The latest update indicates that the company continues to face challenges in manufacturing the rocket's large booster stage. Neutron's reusable first stage is constructed from carbon composite structures. These materials provide low weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. However, carbon composites in aerospace applications are generally more difficult to manufacture than metallic structures.