SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Details [Line Items]
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Principals of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the requirements of the SEC for interim financial information and include the accounts of Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP can be condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial information. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, or for any other interim period or for any other future year. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, our management evaluates estimates and assumptions including those related to revenue recognition, contract costs, loss reserves, valuation of warrants and stock-based compensation and deferred tax valuation allowances. We based our estimates on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. Other Significant Accounting Policies There have been no significant changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2024, except for the addition of accounting policies with respect to convertible senior notes and capped call transactions below. Refer to Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies disclosed in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024. Convertible Senior Notes The Company accounts for convertible senior notes under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 470-20 - Debt with Conversion and Other Options and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”). The Company records the convertible senior notes as a long-term liability at face value net of debt issuance costs. If any of the conditions to the convertibility of the convertible senior notes is satisfied, or the convertible senior notes become due within one year, then the Company may be required under applicable accounting standards to reclassify the carrying value of the convertible senior notes as a current, rather than a long-term liability. Debt issuance costs related to the convertible senior notes were capitalized and recorded as a contra-liability and are presented net against the convertible senior notes balance on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs consist of underwriting, legal and other direct costs related to the issuance of the convertible senior notes and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible senior notes using the effective interest method. Capped Call Transactions Capped call transactions cover the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that will initially underlie the convertible senior notes. The Company determined that the freestanding capped call option contracts qualify as equity under the accounting guidance on indexation and equity classification, and recognized the contract by recording an entry to “Additional paid-in capital” (“APIC”) in stockholders’ equity in its condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also determined that the capped call option contracts meet the definition of a derivative under ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), but are not required to be accounted for as a derivative as they meet the scope exception outlined in ASC 815. The capped call options are recorded in APIC and not remeasured. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 280”), which requires a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. ASU 280 requires a public entity to disclose the title and position of the Chief Operating Decision Maker. ASU 280 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. A public entity should apply the amendments in ASU 280 retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 280 on its financial statements. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 740”), which focuses on the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 740 requires a public business entity (“PBE”) to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. For PBEs, the new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 740 prospectively by providing the revised disclosures for the period ending December 31, 2025 and continuing to provide the pre-ASU 740 disclosures for the prior periods, or may apply the amendments retrospectively by providing the revised disclosures for all period presented. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 740 on its financial statements. In March 2024, the SEC adopted final rules requiring public entities to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. As part of the disclosures, entities will be required to quantify certain effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions in a note to their audited financial statements. The rules will be effective for large accelerated filers in annual periods beginning in calendar-year 2025. On April 4, 2024, the SEC voluntarily stayed implementation of the final rule to facilitate the orderly judicial resolution of pending legal challenges to the rule. The Company is assessing the effect of the new rules on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Details [Line Items]

Principals of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the requirements of the SEC for interim financial information and include the accounts of Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP can be condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial information. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, or for any other interim period or for any other future year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

On an ongoing basis, our management evaluates estimates and assumptions including those related to revenue recognition, contract costs, loss reserves, valuation of warrants and stock-based compensation and deferred tax valuation allowances. We based our estimates on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no significant changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2024, except for the addition of accounting policies with respect to convertible senior notes and capped call transactions below. Refer to Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies disclosed in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024.

Convertible Senior Notes

The Company accounts for convertible senior notes under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 470-20 - Debt with Conversion and Other Options and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”). The Company records the convertible senior notes as a long-term liability at face value net of debt issuance costs. If any of the conditions to the convertibility of the convertible senior notes is satisfied, or the convertible senior notes become due within one year, then the Company may be required under applicable accounting standards to reclassify the carrying value of the convertible senior notes as a current, rather than a long-term liability.

Debt issuance costs related to the convertible senior notes were capitalized and recorded as a contra-liability and are presented net against the convertible senior notes balance on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs consist of underwriting, legal and other direct costs related to the issuance of the convertible senior notes and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible senior notes using the effective interest method.

Capped Call Transactions

Capped call transactions cover the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that will initially underlie the convertible senior notes. The Company determined that the freestanding capped call option contracts qualify as equity under the accounting guidance on indexation and equity classification, and recognized the contract by recording an entry to “Additional paid-in capital” (“APIC”) in stockholders’ equity in its condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also determined that the capped call option contracts meet the definition of a derivative under ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), but are not required to be accounted for as a derivative as they meet the scope exception outlined in ASC 815. The capped call options are recorded in APIC and not remeasured.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 280”), which requires a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. ASU 280 requires a public entity to disclose the title and position of the Chief Operating Decision Maker. ASU 280 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. A public entity should apply the amendments in ASU 280 retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 280 on its financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 740”), which focuses on the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 740 requires a public business entity (“PBE”) to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. For PBEs, the new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 740 prospectively by providing the revised disclosures for the period ending December 31, 2025 and continuing to provide the pre-ASU 740 disclosures for the prior periods, or may apply the amendments retrospectively by providing the revised disclosures for all period presented. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 740 on its financial statements.

In March 2024, the SEC adopted final rules requiring public entities to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. As part of the disclosures, entities will be required to quantify certain effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions in a note to their audited financial statements. The rules will be effective for large accelerated filers in annual periods beginning in calendar-year 2025. On April 4, 2024, the SEC voluntarily stayed implementation of the final rule to facilitate the orderly judicial resolution of pending legal challenges to the rule. The Company is assessing the effect of the new rules on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.