Peter Beck is charting his own course.

On December 2, the CEO of spaceflight firm Rocket Lab starred in a video that detailed the latest updates to the Neutron rocket. The upcoming reusable vehicle can send 8,000 kg (17,600 pounds) to low-Earth orbit or 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds) to Mars and Venus.

Beck dreams of Venus

Venus, of course, is a pet favorite of Beck’s — see Musk Reads+ #9 for more on that.

The latest update video showed a series of fascinating features for Neutron:

• A unique, curved shape that enables rapid reusability
• The “lightest upper stage ever, in history”
• A wide, static base instead of deployable landing legs
• A unique Rocket Lab carbon composite material that makes the rocket lighter than ever — the first of its kind
• A “hungry hippo” fairing that stays fixed to the first stage

Want to know more about Rocket Labs’ big plans, how it could aid deep space missions, and how a unique design choice offers key improvements to rockets? Read the full interview with Peter Beck, only in MUSK READS+.

But he can’t do it alone

The Neutron rocket pairs with the Electron, the existing small rocket capable of sending 300 kg (661 pounds) to low-Earth orbit. The reusable rocket has completed 22 launches and successfully deployed 107 satellites.

Together, Beck claims the two can lift 90 percent of spacecraft planned for the next decade or so.

“It’s about right-sizing the vehicle for the majority of the market,” Beck tells Inverse.

Pragmatic yet inspiring, Beck’s approach is a reminder that finding a clear business case doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on bigger dreams. But Beck’s a realist. While he may dream about exploring Venus, he knows the money needs to come from somewhere.

“You don’t go to all the trouble of building a rocket for no market,” he says.

TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW, SUBSCRIBE TO MUSK READS+.

Here is what you will gain from subscribing to MUSK READS+:

• Three emails per week, enabling fans to go deeper into the week’s stories.
• Original interviews and reporting, longform analysis, previews, and recaps of major events, including earnings calls and more.
• Community-focused extras like responses to reader mail, an upcoming event calendar, and notable anniversaries.
• An archive of previous subscriber-only content, so you can easily read back over what you might have missed.
• Promotional deals and offers.
• Supporting original, independent journalism.

MUSK READS+ is a fully independent operation. We are not Elon Musk, nor are we employed by him. Our job is to report the events we find important, giving you the inside look at the worlds of space rockets, electric cars, clean energy, and more. It means first-hand accounts of a SpaceX rocket launch, Tesla insights from third-party analysts, and more.

If you want to support us in our mission, and receive original interviews and analysis, consider contributing with a subscription.