Firefly Signs Landmark Launch Contract with Lockheed Martin

Firefly Aerospace, a prominent private small satellite launcher, has secured a major contract with aerospace and defense titan Lockheed Martin.

The agreement, unveiled on June 5, entails Firefly providing Lockheed Martin with up to 25 dedicated launches aboard its Alpha rocket through 2029. This deal includes 15 confirmed launch reservations and options for an additional 10 missions.

Lockheed Martin’s payloads are slated to be deployed to low-Earth orbit from Firefly’s launch pads on both U.S. coasts. The inaugural mission under this contract is expected to take place later this year, launching on the sixth flight of Firefly’s Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Firefly's next scheduled launch is a NASA mission, part of the agency’s Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration program, highlighting the company's growing reputation in the space launch industry.

Bob Behnken, director of Lockheed Martin’s Ignite Technology Acceleration program, emphasized the strategic importance of the new partnership with Firefly, stating, “diversifies our access to space.” Lockheed Martin plans to use this series of small-satellite space missions to showcase technologies aimed at U.S. government customers. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

A notable feature of the contract includes rapid call-up services, which involve swiftly transporting the payload fairing to the launch pad, integrating it with the Alpha rocket, and launching within hours of final preparations. This capability is crucial for time-sensitive missions and enhances Firefly's appeal as a launch service provider.

Lockheed Martin's new agreement is significant, as in December 2023, a mission anomaly occurred during a Firefly launch that involved one of Lockheed Martin’s payloads.

The Alpha rocket experienced an upper stage issue, resulting in a 300-pound technology demonstration payload being deployed into an incorrect orbit. The spacecraft, equipped with an electronically steerable antenna aboard a Terran Orbital satellite bus, ended up in a much lower orbit than planned. Nonetheless, Lockheed Martin reported that the payload “exceeded our expectations and successfully completed all primary mission objectives” despite the orbital deviation.

Lockheed Martin's endorsement of Firefly follows their strategic decision in 2021 to partner with ABL Space, another small-satellite launcher in which Lockheed Martin has invested. Although ABL’s first launch attempt did not succeed, preparations for a second attempt are underway. Lockheed Martin has indicated their intention to continue collaborating with ABL, reflecting a broader strategy to maintain diversified access to space launch services.

This new contract with Firefly represents a significant step for both companies, signaling Firefly's resilience and reliability in the competitive small satellite launch market and reinforcing Lockheed Martin’s commitment to advancing their space capabilities through strategic partnerships.