Rocketlab is trying to carve a niche with smaller payloads -quicker to orbit clients. This is why their rocket is smaller. If you have a small payload and you d

Rocketlab is trying to carve a niche with smaller payloads -quicker to orbit clients. This is why their rocket is smaller. If you have a small payload and you don't want to wait for a ride on a Falcon 9, you go to them. Designing and flying a Falcon 9 competitor is a very risky proposition. They would start heavily behind SpaceX and with Falcon 9 proven record, it's doubtful they could ever win that fight.