Firefly Aerospace is a Texas-based private aerospace company that provides end-to-end space transportation services. It specializes in the development of small to medium-lift launch vehicles like the Alpha rocket and lunar landers such as Blue Ghost, along with on-orbit services using its Elytra space tug. Firefly works with partners like NASA and ESA, securing contracts for commercial lunar payload services and missions to the far side of the Moon. The company aims to provide affordable and reliable space access for government and commercial customers, contributing to lunar and cislunar exploration.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Firefly Aerospace was awarded an approximately $179,600,000 NASA contract to deliver and operate six NASA instruments in the Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon’s near side in 2028 as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, recommended small study contracts for commercial space businesses to help prioritize collaborative efforts.
SPIDER is planned to remain tethered to Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander during a 14-day mission on the far side of the moon in 2026.
Fleet is developing a 600-gram version of its sensor to join Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander mission to the far side of the moon in 2026.
Lockheed Martin will launch the Tactical Satellite (TacSat) aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket in 2025.
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket is designed to launch up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
The approximately 60-day Blue Ghost mission will be operated from Firefly Aerospace’s Mission Operations Center in Cedar Park, Texas.
Firefly Aerospace plans to launch Blue Ghost 1 during a six-day window in mid-January.
NASA awarded Firefly Aerospace a task order for Blue Ghost in February 2021 valued at $93,300,000 with a launch originally projected for 2023.
The LM 400 has completed testing and is preparing to launch on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket in the first half of 2025.
On 2024-11-19, Lockheed Martin scheduled the LM 400 satellite bus to make its orbital debut next year aboard a Firefly Aerospace rocket.
The Series D funding round values Firefly Aerospace at more than $2,000,000,000.
Firefly Aerospace demonstrated responsive space capability with the Alpha launch of the Space Force’s Victus Nox mission in September 2023, launching a spacecraft on a 24-hour callup.
Firefly Aerospace had raised about $300,000,000 since February 2023 prior to the Series D round.
Firefly Aerospace scheduled the Blue Ghost lunar lander to launch in the fourth quarter but has not provided a more specific launch date due to uncertainties in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch manifest.
Firefly Aerospace signed a contract with L3Harris in August for up to 20 Alpha launches over five years.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander completed environmental testing and was returned to Firefly headquarters for final preparations as of the 2024-10-29 Lunar Exploration Analysis Group meeting.
Firefly Aerospace is completing final preparations for its first Elytra mission, a configurable spacecraft designed to provide on-orbit services and a deep space communication network.
Firefly Aerospace raised $175,000,000 in a Series D funding round led by RPM Ventures.
Firefly Aerospace closed an oversubscribed $175,000,000 Series D financing round at a valuation of more than $2,000,000,000.