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.
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The Firefly–Lockheed Martin agreement commits Lockheed Martin to 15 launch reservations and 10 optional launches.
Firefly Aerospace signed a multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin for 25 launches on Firefly’s Alpha rocket through 2029.
Firefly signed a contract with Lockheed Martin announced 2024-06-05 for dedicated launches aboard Firefly’s Alpha rocket.
Firefly Aerospace launched an Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California three days before Christmas.
Firefly Aerospace confirmed about 12 hours after launch that Alpha’s stage 2 engine relight malfunctioned and did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit.
Elytra was designed and built in-house at Firefly Aerospace.
Firefly Aerospace will host the Klepsydra Artificial Intelligence application on Firefly’s Elytra vehicle that will launch aboard Alpha later 2024.
Firefly Aerospace signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit to conduct a trade study on Firefly’s capabilities to rapidly launch Elytra vehicles and support missions beyond geosynchronous orbit (xGEO).
On 2024-03-21 Firefly Aerospace signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit to conduct a trade study on Firefly’s capabilities to rapidly launch Elytra vehicles and support missions beyond Geosynchronous Orbit (xGEO).
Under the DIU contract, after the initial study Firefly Aerospace would deliver three to six orbital vehicles for one or more launches to orbits in cislunar space with the goal of reducing delivery time for each subsequent mission.
Firefly Aerospace offers launch, lunar, and on-orbit services and develops small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles.
DIU awarded Firefly Aerospace a study contract that could lead to as many as two flight demonstration missions in cislunar space.
The Defense Innovation Unit signed an agreement with Firefly Aerospace on 2024-03-21 to study the potential use of Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle for missions beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit.
Firefly Aerospace delivered the ESA spacecraft from Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Colorado to Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The DIU contract with Firefly supports the Sinequone project that aims to deliver cost-effective, responsive access to xGEO through both launch and orbital transfer services.
Firefly Aerospace ships its rockets built in Texas to California for launches due to a lack of launch facilities in Texas.
Firefly Aerospace selected three educational payloads to launch aboard its Alpha rocket as early as 2025.
Firefly Aerospace established the DREAM program in 2019 to encourage students to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Firefly Aerospace selected three educational payloads to launch aboard its Alpha rocket as early as 2025.
Firefly Aerospace’s request for proposals for 2026 DREAM payloads will open in 2025.