Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) was just coming off its best stock price day ever. Before the weekend began, Rocket Lab had touched -- then passed -- $30 a share, and a lot of investors were convinced it would go higher.

The U.S. Space Force selects Rocket Lab to compete for its $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program.

The company is now one of five eligible launch providers for the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program. With a five-year ordering period running through June 2029, Rocket Lab will compete for mission contracts that could extend until 2034.