Firefly Aerospace
Firefly raises $75 million as it prepares for second launch
Launch vehicle developer Firefly Aerospace has raised $75 million in a new funding round as the company, now under new ownership, prepares for a second launch of its Alpha rocket this spring.
AE Industrial Partners to acquire stake in Firefly from Noosphere
AE Industrial Partners is buying the part of Firefly Aerospace currently owned by Noosphere Venture Partners, which previously announced it was being forced by the federal government to sell its stake in the launch vehicle developer.
Firefly halts launch preparations after federal government seeks divestment of foreign ownership
Firefly Aerospace is pausing preparations for its next Alpha launch, originally scheduled for early 2022, after the government asked its largest shareholder to divest its stake for national security reasons.
Firefly Aerospace hires former Air Force officer to lead space transportation sales
Firefly Aerospace has hired a former U.S. Air Force officer to lead a rebranded subsidiary responsible for sales of its launch vehicles and other capabilities to government and commercial customers.
Firefly Alpha failure blamed on premature engine shutdown
Firefly Aerospace said Sept. 5 its first Alpha rocket failed when one of its first-stage engines shut down seconds after liftoff.
Firefly Alpha explodes during first launch
Firefly Aerospace’s first launch of its Alpha rocket ended in failure when the rocket exploded two minutes after liftoff Sept. 2
Firefly emphasizes first Alpha launch a test flight
Firefly Aerospace is ready for the first orbital launch attempt of its Alpha rocket on a flight that is as much about collecting vehicle data as it is about reaching orbit.
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket ready for first launch
Firefly Aerospace is ready to make its first orbital launch attempt next week as the company balances a transition to operations with plans to develop new rockets and spacecraft.
Firefly hires former SpaceX, Blue Origin engineer as COO
Firefly Aerospace has hired a former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineer as its new chief operating officer to guide the company’s shift from development to production, although exactly when the company’s first launch will take place remains unclear.
FAA begins use of system to reduce impact of launches on airspace
The FAA has started to use a new tool intended to better integrate commercial launches and reentries into the National Airspace System, reducing the disruptions those events have on aviation.
Firefly selects SpaceX to launch its lunar lander
Firefly Aerospace announced May 20 it selected SpaceX to launch its first lunar lander mission for NASA, the latest in a series of contract wins by SpaceX for lunar missions.
Firefly Aerospace raises $75 million Series A round
Firefly Aerospace, nearing the first launch of its Alpha rocket, announced May 4 it raised $75 million in a Series A round that values the company at more than $1 billion.
Noosphere Ventures aims to build an integrated space powerhouse: Q&A with managing partner Max Polyakov
Max Polyakov is on a mission to build out a vertically integrated space business with Noosphere Ventures Partners, his Silicon Valley-based investment vehicle. He tells SpaceNews how COVID-19 has affected these plans, and how a surge in public companies is changing the business environment.
General Atomics selects Firefly to launch NASA Earth science instrument
General Atomics selected Firefly Aerospace to launch a small Earth science satellite for NASA on an Alpha rocket in 2022.
Firefly wins NASA CLPS lunar lander contract
NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver a set of 10 research payloads to the moon in 2023, the latest award in its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
Firefly Aerospace seeking to raise $350 million
Small launch vehicle developer Firefly Aerospace, nearing its first orbital launch attempt, is looking to raise $350 million to scale up production and work on a new, larger vehicle.
Ten companies bid for NASA small launch vehicle contract
A NASA small launch vehicle competition attracted bids from 10 companies, but half of them were effectively disqualified because of deficiencies or other problems.
Three companies win NASA small launch contracts
Three small launch vehicle developers won a combined $16.7 million in NASA contracts as part of an effort to support the development of new launch vehicles.
Small launch industry sees pandemic, government affecting market
Executives with several major small launch vehicle companies say both the economic repercussions of the pandemic and the growing interest by the U.S. government in such vehicles could reshape the industry.
Firefly signs launch agreement with Spaceflight
Firefly Aerospace has signed a contract with Spaceflight to be the primary customer for a rideshare mission on Firefly’s Alpha small launch vehicle in 2021.
