This week, Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an organization committed to end-to-end space transportation, announced that the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has selected the company to serve as a launch provider for Firefly's Alpha rocket. As part of the NRO's Streamlined Launch Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (SLIC), the contract has a 10-year ordering period with a ceiling value of $700 million across all firm fixed-price task orders.
Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said, "Firefly Aerospace is ready to support the NRO's responsive space needs as we continue to advance our rapid launch operations capability." In order to accommodate the increased demand for Alpha launches, we have doubled the size of our facilities, implemented automated carbon composite technologies, and refined our operations so that they can be quickly produced, tested, and launched in response to the urgent mission needs of our customers."
In addition to continuing to advance Firefly Aerospace's rapid launch operations capability, Bill Weber, the CEO of Firefly Aerospace, stated that "Firefly is ready to meet the NRO's responsive space needs." As a result of the increase in demand for Alpha launches, we have doubled our facilities, implemented automated carbon composite technologies, and fine-tuned our operations so that they can quickly produce, test, and launch missions in response to the urgent mission needs of our customers.
A program called SLIC was developed by the Office of Space Launch of the NRO to encourage competition among emerging launch providers and to leverage commercial best practices for responsive space missions. There are several ways in which U.S. launch vehicles with a proven orbital record can participate in SLIC, including dedicated launches, rideshare launches, and multi-manifest launches.
In its capacity as a provider of SLIC, Firefly is able to compete for NRO launches with its Alpha rocket, capable of lifting more than 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit from both Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.. Through the use of robust in-house manufacturing capabilities, sharing components among its vehicles, and utilizing innovative technologies, such as carbon composite sandwich structures and patented tap-off cycle propulsion systems, Firefly minimizes launch costs and increases reliability and responsiveness.
Through the use of robust in-house manufacturing capabilities, sharing components among its vehicles, and utilizing innovative technologies, such as carbon composite sandwich structures and patented tap-off cycle propulsion systems, Firefly minimizes launch costs and increases reliability and responsiveness.
It is expected that Firefly's next Alpha launch for NASA will take place in early 2024. The company also plans to support a responsive on-orbit mission to the NRO aboard Firefly's Elytra vehicle in late 2024.

Source prnewswire