Rocket Lab Acquires Geost, LLC from ATL Partners / LightRidge Solutions

Rocket Lab Acquires Geost

August 12, 2025

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab Corporation has completed the acquisition of the parent holding company of Geost, LLC from Lightridge Solutions (a portfolio company of ATL Partners) for $275 million before closing adjustments — comprising approximately $125 million in cash and 3,057,588 shares of Rocket Lab common stock, plus a potential earnout of up to $50 million. The deal brings Geost's electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor payload capabilities and manufacturing facilities into Rocket Lab, expanding its national security space capabilities and U.S. footprint (Arizona and Virginia).

LightRidge Solutions Acquires Trident Systems

July 17, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

LightRidge Solutions, a portfolio company of ATL Partners, has acquired Trident Systems, a provider of high-performance space electronics and C4ISR solutions. The add-on deal — terms not disclosed — expands LightRidge's capabilities in space mission computing, increases Trident's production capacity, and brings complementary engineering talent into the LightRidge platform.

ATL Partners Acquires Majority Stake in GEOST

August 18, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

New York-based private equity firm ATL Partners has made a majority investment in GEOST, a Tucson, Arizona designer and integrator of small-to-medium electro-optical/infrared sensors for national security space missions. ATL plans to scale GEOST through organic growth, new production capacity and strategic bolt-on acquisitions to expand the company's product capabilities in space domain awareness and related subsystems.

Firmament Invests in LightRidge Solutions Holdings LLC

October 5, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

Firmament announced a capital investment in LightRidge Solutions Holdings LLC to provide structured equity and credit financing to the space- and defense-focused platform. The investment will support LightRidge’s continued platform build and capability expansion—LightRidge (an ATL Partners-backed platform) has previously added GEOST and Ophir and recently integrated Trident Systems to expand space electronics, sensing and C4ISR capabilities.

Rocket Lab Acquires Advanced Solutions, Inc.

October 12, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. completed the acquisition of Advanced Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a Colorado-based aerospace engineering firm specializing in flight software, mission simulation, and GNC, for $40 million plus up to $5.5 million of performance-based earnouts. The deal expands Rocket Lab's Space Systems capabilities and integrates ASI's proven flight software and GNC expertise into Rocket Lab's Photon and broader spacecraft offerings.

Rocket Lab Completes Merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation

August 25, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. completed its previously announced merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation and began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker RKLB. The transaction generated approximately $777 million of gross proceeds (including trust account funds and concurrent PIPE financing) to accelerate Rocket Lab’s space systems growth, fund development of the reusable Neutron rocket, and support organic and inorganic expansion.