Firefly Aerospace
"Launch. Land. Orbit."
Texas space and defense company that operates the Alpha rocket and built Blue Ghost, the first commercial lander to soft-land on the Moon.
Firefly Aerospace is a U.S. space and defense technology company formed in 2017 and headquartered in Leander, near Austin, Texas, with spacecraft facilities in Cedar Park and a launch-vehicle production and test site (the Rocket Ranch) in Briggs, Texas. The company develops small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles built on common, flight-proven technologies. Its Alpha rocket is an expendable two-stage launch vehicle capable of delivering roughly 1,030 kg to low Earth orbit and 630 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit. Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander made history on March 2, 2025, when it became the first commercial spacecraft to complete a fully successful soft landing on the Moon, operating a suite of NASA payloads under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. The lander stands about 2 m tall and 3.5 m wide, with shock-absorbing feet, a low center of mass, and a wide footprint for stability.
Beyond launch and landing, Firefly develops Elytra orbital transfer and servicing vehicles, Ocula lunar imaging services, and spacecraft vision-based autonomy and navigation systems.
The company pursues responsive-launch capability, having demonstrated launching a satellite to orbit on 24-hour notice, and supports defense, civil, and commercial customers across cislunar space. Firefly operates launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with additional sites at Wallops Island, Cape Canaveral, and Esrange in Sweden. It has acquired SciTec and Space-ng to extend data fusion and autonomous space operations, employs more than 1,500 people, and trades publicly with CEO Jason Kim leading the company.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Blue Ghost
- Model: Mission 1
- Launch Year: 2025
First commercial lunar lander to complete a fully successful soft landing on the Moon.
Alpha
Expendable two-stage small-lift launch vehicle for dedicated and responsive missions.
Elytra
Orbital transfer and in-space servicing vehicle for maneuver and space domain awareness.
Contact Firefly Aerospace
WEBSITE
https://fireflyspace.com/HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2017
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Certifications & Memberships
Firefly Aerospace to Test Nuclear-Powered Heating Technology on Moon by 2028
Firefly Aerospace plans to send a nuclear-powered heating technology to the Moon in 2028, aiming to test spacecraft survival during the lunar night’s extreme cold. This initiative involves Zeno Power Systems' Survive-the-Night Package, which will be launched aboard the Blue Ghost mission, addressing a significant challenge for lunar exploration. The importance of this experiment lies in its potential to ensure spacecraft can operate beyond the lunar day, where temperatures can plummet below minus 275°F. As solar-powered systems face limitations after sunset, the nuclear heating solution could be crucial for sustaining operations during the two-week lunar night, especially in permanently shadowed regions that never receive sunlight. Looking ahead, the demonstration will provide valuable data on the performance of nuclear heating technology in harsh lunar conditions. This information is vital as NASA and commercial entities aim to establish long-term lunar infrastructure and conduct missions in areas with extreme thermal environments. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Space
SpaceX Rocket Crash on Moon Raises Operational Risks for Future Lunar Settlements
On August 5, a 4.5-ton SpaceX rocket body impacted the moon near Einstein Crater, an event recorded by South Korea's Danuri spacecraft and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The Falcon 9 upper stage, which had been in space for over a year, previously launched Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost-1 lander and ispace's Hakuto-R Mission 2's Resilience lander. The uncontrolled collision underscores significant operational risks as lunar infrastructure develops. Dean Sladen from Accu Components highlighted that as more agencies and companies establish permanent bases on the moon, the presence of uncontrolled rocket stages could evolve from a minor issue to a serious threat, potentially damaging sensitive equipment. Looking ahead, the implications of this incident may prompt further discussions on space debris management and safety protocols for lunar missions. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
The moon Astronomy Solar System
NASA begins funding hardware for 'Skyfall' Mars helicopter mission
NASA is advancing its nuclear-powered mission to Mars by selecting Firefly Aerospace to design and manufacture the protective aeroshell for the Skyfall spacecraft. This critical component will safeguard the descent stage as it enters the Martian atmosphere. The collaboration marks a significant step in ensuring the spacecraft's safe landing on the Red Planet, as it prepares for its upcoming mission. The decision underscores NASA's commitment to innovative technologies in space exploration, particularly in the context of future manned missions to Mars.
Missions Space Exploration
Meta Cloud Business; NASA Lunar Lander Contracts | Stock Movers
Shares of several space companies, including FireFly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and Voyager Technologies, experienced significant movement following NASA's announcement that it has selected these firms to send robotic landers to the moon. This initiative is part of NASA's broader goal to establish a lunar base by the end of the decade. The agency awarded contracts to Astrobotic Technology Inc., Firefly Aerospace Inc., and Intuitive Machines Inc. for this lunar mission. In the consumer goods sector, General Mills saw its stock rise after reporting fourth-quarter profits that surpassed Wall Street expectations, driven by increased pricing strategies. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc. gained traction on the stock market amid reports that the company is planning to launch a cloud infrastructure business aimed at providing access to AI computing power and models. Additionally, Meta is exploring the possibility of offering access to its "raw" computing capacity, as indicated by sources familiar with the company's plans.
NYS:GIS NMS:SPCX NAS:LUNR NMS:META
Firefly Aerospace Operates NVIDIA Jetson in Lunar Orbit for the First Time
Palantir Technologies has unveiled a new intelligent engine designed to enhance secure artificial intelligence capabilities for U.S. government agencies. This announcement was made today, highlighting the significance of open-source innovation in the American AI landscape. The new engine leverages NVIDIA's Nemotron open models, aiming to meet the specific needs of federal entities. By integrating these advanced technologies, Palantir seeks to bolster the security and effectiveness of AI applications within closed environments, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected while still benefiting from the flexibility and adaptability of open-source frameworks. This initiative underscores Palantir's commitment to providing robust AI solutions tailored for government use, addressing the growing demand for secure and efficient technological tools in public service.
Rocket Lab launches US Space Force mission with less than 17 hours' notice — a new record
Firefly Aerospace successfully launched the Victus Nox mission for the U.S. Space Force on the night of September 14, just 27 hours after receiving the launch order. This rapid response underscores the company's commitment to providing timely and efficient launch services for national defense purposes. The mission took place at a designated launch site, showcasing Firefly's capabilities in supporting military operations through advanced space technology. The swift execution of this launch reflects the growing emphasis on agility and responsiveness in the realm of space operations, particularly for defense initiatives.
Launches & Spacecraft Space Exploration
