Firefly Aerospace Company
Firefly was created for one simple reason: provide low-cost, high-performance space launch capability for the under-served small satellite market, where secondary-payload launches are often the only option. The technologies employed in their state-of-the-art rockets provide a clear pathway for future incremental improvements in vehicle capability. Later vehicles will also have reusable elements and employ air-breathing propulsion. Small satellites are playing an increasingly significant role in space. Smaller, lighter, and cheaper satellite technologies have led to functional systems that are a fraction of the size of their predecessors. Meanwhile, constellations of small satellites are showing promise for replacing larger custom-built systems, thus providing redundancy and the ability to regularly refresh system technology. Lastly, many advanced technologies languish at middle TRL levels. Low-cost rides to space will allow these technologies to be proven and advance their collective space-flight capabilities. Firefly Aerospace was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.