SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.03
Alba Orbital logo Alba Orbital Designs and manufactures PocketQube picosatellites, brokers rideshare launches, and operates a nighttime Earth observation constellation. vs Rocket Lab USA Rocket Lab USA logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
Alba Orbital Rocket Lab USA
Founded 2012 2006
Headquarters Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom Long Beach, California, USA
Type private public
Status operating operating
Employees 14 1,627
Total funding $3.4M
Latest round Seed
Sectors Satellite Manufacturing, Earth Observation & Remote Sensing Launch Services, Satellite Components & Subsystems, Satellite Manufacturing
Products listed 5 16
Federal contracts 1 ($7.0M)
Launches 130 (65%)
Leaders listed Tom Walkinshaw, Irene Belton Shanks Sir Peter Beck, Adam Spice, Frank Klein
News mentions 0 0
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do Alba Orbital and Rocket Lab USA compare?

Both companies work in Satellite Manufacturing. Alba Orbital was founded in 2012 and Rocket Lab USA in 2006.

Which is larger, Alba Orbital or Rocket Lab USA?

Rocket Lab USA reports the larger workforce, with 1,627 employees versus 14.

Which has more US federal contracts, Alba Orbital or Rocket Lab USA?

Rocket Lab USA has been awarded more, with $7.0M across 1 awards.

Which has more launches, Alba Orbital or Rocket Lab USA?

Rocket Lab USA leads with 130 tracked launches (65% success rate).

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.