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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Firefly Aerospace is developing larger lunar landers that can deliver several metric tons to the lunar surface.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander can carry up to 240 kilograms.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lander remained upright and completed its full mission in March 2025.
Lockheed Martin, Seagate Space, and Firefly Aerospace formed a three-way strategic collaboration on May 4 to develop sea-based launch capabilities for national security missions.
Firefly Aerospace’s CLPS award included a Canadian Space Agency rover.
Firefly Aerospace received a $176.7 million CLPS task order to deliver two rovers and three scientific instruments to the Moon’s South Pole region.
The Firefly Aerospace task order was the company’s fifth CLPS task order and fourth lunar mission.
The 13 CLPS contractors are Astrobotic Technology, Blue Origin, Ceres Robotics, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, Lockheed Martin Space, Moon Express, Orbit Beyond, Redwire Space Sensors, Sierra Space, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.
Firefly Aerospace received Federal Aviation Administration clearance to resume Alpha launches in August 2025 after the April 29, 2025 LM 400 mission failure.
On April 29, 2025, Lockheed Martin launched an LM 400 mid-sized satellite bus on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha Flight 6 mission from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Firefly Aerospace received the Space Achievement Award from the Space Foundation for the successful Moon landing of Blue Ghost.
Firefly Aerospace is taking on a more operational role in lunar missions by executing complex missions rather than serving only as a technology supplier.
In early April, Firefly Aerospace planned to work with Seagate Space to use a floating launch platform.
Firefly Aerospace’s near- and medium-term Alpha missions are currently scheduled to launch from US sites.
Firefly Aerospace is the only US rocket builder currently committed to launching from Esrange.
South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace and Firefly Aerospace have committed to using Esrange Space Centre for future launches.
Firefly Aerospace plans to launch its Alpha rocket from Esrange Space Centre.
Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman are collaborating on Eclipse, a medium-lift launch rocket.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 will land on the far side of the Moon.
Six companies have signed up for the Lunar Ledger: ispace, Firefly, Astrolab, JAOPS, Dymon, and SpaceData.