Firefly Aerospace Inc. has passed another major test — perhaps its biggest yet, under the watchful eye of the U.S. Space Force.
The Cedar Park-based rocket maker on Sept. 14 successfully launched its Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and deployed the branch's "Victus Nox" spacecraft. And it did so with 24-hour notice, a demonstration of what the military calls "tactically responsive space capabilities."
Firefly said, after getting the call from the Space Force, it completed final launch preparations, including updating its trajectory software, getting the payload and rocket to the launch pad and fueling up the rocket. The mission launched in the first available window, which was 27 hours after the launch order. The payload was made by California-based Millennium Space Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing Co.
"Today was an incredible success for the Space Force, the Firefly team, and our nation after nailing this complex responsive space mission," stated Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly. "Our combined commercial and government team executed the mission with record speed, agility, and flexibility, adding a critical capability to address national security needs."
Firefly has been busy this year. Earlier this week, the company said it was awarded an $18 million NASA contract to help with a future moon mission. In June, Firefly said it was purchasing the remaining assets of the bankrupt space tourism business Virgin Galactic, and that it bought a Seattle-area space launch services startup. In March, it was named part of a $112 million contract to help NASA land on the dark side of the moon (in addition to rockets, Firefly is building a lunar lander called Blue Ghost). And in February, the company raised the eight-figure first tranche of what could be a massive $300 million funding round (the company has been valued at more than $1 billion).
The company reached orbit for the first time with its second rocket launch, which was last October. Back on terra firma, Firefly is investing more than $50 million at its HQ, in northeast Cedar Park, and test facility outside Briggs.
