Rocket Lab Stock Recoils as Mars Sample-Return Plan Fails to Clear Congress

Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock slipped after Congress scrapped a plan to return NASA Mars Perseverance rover samples, a project Rocket Lab proposed handling by 2031 under a fixed-price contract; the setback matters less for near-term revenue but RKLB’s high valuation (~45x expected 2027 sales) makes it sensitive to headlines, with analysts still signaling a Moderate Buy and about 15% upside ahead of Artemis II.