Cedar Park Rocket Firm Reaches New Heights With New Launch Pact

CEDAR PARK, TX — Locally based satellite launching company Firefly has agreed to use its Alpha rocket to deploy satellites for another firm, officials said in a press release.

The agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. calls for up to six launches between 2020 and 2022, officials said. SSTL, a spin-off company from the University of Surrey, is now majority-owned by Airbus Defense and Space, a builder of small satellites.

The deal with SSTL comes about a month after Firefly announced it secured a statement of support to launch its rockets from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

"Firefly is pleased to enter into an LSA with SSTL to provide up to six Alpha launches from 2020 through 2022," Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic said in a prepared statement. "The Alpha launch vehicle allows for deployment of SSTL satellites as a primary payload to their preferred orbit, rather than flying as a secondary payload on a larger launch vehicle."

Sarah Parker, SSTL Managing Director, added: "SSTL is delighted to be the first Firefly Aerospace customer to sign an LSA. Our new partnership with Firefly assures SSTL customers convenient, dependable access to space, with certainty of launch opportunities. Starting with CARBONITE-4 in early 2020, we look forward to launching many successful missions together."

Firefly's co-founder, Dr. Max Polyakov, Firefly Co-founder, explained the milestone significance of the new agreement with SSTL: "The Firefly Alpha program is on schedule for our first launch in the third quarter of 2019. Our mass production processes will enable eight Alpha flights in 2020 and eighteen flights in 2021. This launch cadence will allow Firefly to support missions from SSTL and the many other customers that have expressed interest in the Alpha launch vehicle. Firefly is excited to join with SSTL in opening space to a new generation of entrepreneurs."

The development comes just more than a month after Firefly's announcement related to the Vandenberg AFB launching agreement. Its agreement with SSTL also signals something of a turnaround for the company in the past two years since it was effectively grounded after failing to secure a much-needed capital infusion, an unforeseen development forcing the furlough of 150 workers.

Related stories:

Cedar Park Aerospace Firm Secures U.S. Air Force Launch Blessing

Cedar Park-Based Space Rocket Company Furloughs Workers, Shuts Down After Failed Investment Bid

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE (provided text):

Firefly is developing a family of launch vehicles to provide industry-leading affordability, convenience and reliability for dedicated light to medium lift launches. Firefly's Alpha and Beta vehicles utilize common technologies, manufacturing infrastructure and launch capabilities, providing LEO launch solutions for up to one and four metric tons of payload respectively. Alpha and Beta will provide the space industry with access to frequent launches at the lowest cost/kg, enabling ambitious commercial and exploration missions from LEO to the Moon. Headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, Firefly has additional presence in Washington, D.C., Dnipro, Ukraine and Tokyo, Japan. Firefly is financed by Noosphere Ventures of Menlo Park, CA.

>>> Image via Firefly Aerospace Inc., used with permission