Launch Pad-0A will be configured to support
Alpha rocket in addition to Antares 330 and new Medium Launch
Vehicle
CEDAR
PARK, Texas, June 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an
end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it is
adding an Alpha launch capability at the Mid-Atlantic Regional
Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island,
Virginia. In support of Firefly's responsive space missions,
Pad-0A will be configured to launch Alpha as early as 2025 in
addition to Antares 330 and the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) Firefly
is co-developing with Northrop Grumman.
"Firefly is committed to establishing a regular on-demand launch
service and serving our customers' growing responsive space needs,
and that requires operating a diverse set of launch sites," said
Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly
Aerospace. "Virginia Spaceport Authority further sets us up for
success by enabling a streamlined approach to launching both Alpha
and MLV from one location at MARS with minimal congestion from the
broader launch market."
The new launch capability on Wallops
Island will supplement Firefly's existing Alpha launch
facilities and further enable Firefly to support rapid, on-demand
missions for government and commercial customers. In addition
to the launch pad, Firefly plans to operate a launch control
center, horizontal integration facility, and administrative office
space on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Firefly will also utilize existing infrastructure in the area, such
as vehicle and payload processing facilities, to eliminate
bottlenecks and retain Firefly's rapid launch capabilities,
recently demonstrated for the VICTUS NOX mission that was executed
with a 24-hour launch notice.
"As growth at Virginia's
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport accelerates, we are delighted to
welcome Firefly Aerospace to Virginia," said Governor Glenn Youngkin. "The Commonwealth plays a
critical role in supporting national security as the need to
maintain our nation's leadership in space becomes increasingly
evident. I look forward to Firefly's success in Virginia as we work together to bolster our
nation's aerospace industry."
Capable of lifting more than 1,000 kg to low-Earth orbit,
Firefly's flight-proven Alpha rocket utilizes patented propulsion
technology and carbon composite structures built with automated
machinery to provide a reliable, low cost, responsive solution for
the domestic and international launch market. With East and West
Coast launch capabilities, Firefly will further increase Alpha's
launch cadence to a monthly basis by 2026 after launching up to
four times in 2024 and six times in 2025.
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly is an end-to-end space
transportation company with launch, lunar, and in-space services.
As an all-American company headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is focused on delivering
responsive, reliable, and affordable space access for government
and commercial customers. Firefly's small- to medium-lift launch
vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space
industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to
the surface of the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit
www.fireflyspace.com.
Contact
press@fireflyspace.com
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SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.