Firefly Aerospace
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.
Firefly suffers anomaly during launch vehicle test
Firefly Aerospace says it had an “anomaly” during a Jan. 22 static-fire test of the first stage of its Alpha rocket under development, an incident that prompted evacuations and road closures in the vicinity in the test site.
Firefly, Innovative Space Logistics sign launch agreement • Viasat nabs $90M IDIQ contract
Dutch launch broker Innovative Space Logistics and Firefly Aerospace signed a launch services agreement for launch opportunities on multiple Firefly Alpha missions starting this year.
CLPS companies worry about increased competition for limited contracts
As NASA adds new companies to a commercial lunar landing services program, some existing participants worry its value to them may now be diminished.
New details emerge about failed lunar landings
The Indian government has offered new details about what happened during its first attempt to land on the moon in September.
Firefly agreement with Aerojet offering immediate benefits
A partnership between small launch vehicle company Firefly Aerospace and propulsion developer Aerojet Rocketdyne, highlighted by Firefly’s potential use of Aerojet’s AR1 engine, also has more immediate benefits for the companies.
Noosphere Venture campaign begins coming together with radar constellation
Noosphere Venture Partners is taking another step toward its goal of creating a vertically integrated space powerhouse.
Firefly partners with Aerojet Rocketdyne, mulls AR1 engine for Beta launch vehicle
Firefly Aerospace on Oct. 18 said it is collaborating with Aerojet Rocketdyne to increase the performance of its upcoming Alpha launch vehicle, and is considering Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1 engine for a future launch vehicle.
Ruag to supply Firefly Aerospace payload adapters
Satellite and rocket hardware provider Ruag Space signed a contract with Firefly Aerospace to provide payload adapters for its small launch vehicles.
Firefly to partner with IAI on lunar lander
Firefly Aerospace announced July 9 it plans to work with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the manufacturer of the Beresheet lunar lander, to develop its own lunar landers for NASA.
Small launch vehicle companies seek improvements in government contracting
As Rocket Lab prepares the next launch of its Electron rocket, it and other small launch vehicle developers say the U.S. government can be a better, and smarter, customer for their services.
Commercial, not government, demand will drive size of small launch vehicle market
Startups in the burgeoning small launch vehicle market acknowledge that only a handful of vehicles will survive a likely shakeout, driven more by commercial rather than government demand.
Firefly to establish factory and launch site in Florida
Firefly Aerospace announced agreements with state and federal agencies Feb. 22 to build a new factory for producing and launching its rockets from Florida’s Space Coast.
Small launch vehicle companies see rideshare as an opportunity and a threat
Developers of small launch vehicles, who have promoted their vehicles as providing dedicated access to space for small satellites, say they’re also open to flying rideshare missions as they face competition from larger rockets.
Firefly investor Noosphere Ventures eyes satellite manufacturing sector
Noosphere Ventures, two years after providing a lifeline investment in small launcher company Firefly, is gearing up to make another space investment, this time in the small-satellite manufacturing sector.
