Shares of Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) surged 6.17% on Tuesday, October 16, as the aerospace company received a boost from multiple positive developments.

The catalyst for the stock's rally was Rocket Lab's announcement that it has been selected by NASA to complete a study for a mission to retrieve rock samples from Mars and return them to Earth. This potential mission concept could be significantly more cost-effective and faster than NASA's current projected timeline, fueling optimism among investors about Rocket Lab's prospects in the rapidly growing space industry.

Adding to the positive sentiment, analysts at KeyBanc expressed confidence in Rocket Lab's ability to scale its business and position itself as an industry leader in launch services and satellite manufacturing. The firm raised its price target on RKLB stock to $11 from $8, further boosting investor enthusiasm.

Moreover, Rocket Lab demonstrated its rapid launch capability by announcing the addition of a last-minute commercial mission to its launch manifest, scheduled for lift-off in just three days. This expedited mission, dubbed "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes," will be Rocket Lab's fastest turnaround from contract to launch date in less than two months, highlighting the company's responsive and flexible launch services.