Firefly Aerospace, Inc. now has a Launch Services Agreement with Exolaunch GmbH to integrate and launch multi-satellite clusters aboard Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle starting in 2022.
Just weeks away from the maiden launch of its Alpha rocket, Firefly plans to swiftly accelerate the frequency of Alpha flights through collaborative partnerships, including this strategic partnership with Exolaunch, a German smallsat integrator known for its substantial flight heritage, flight-proven deployment technologies and high reliability.
Exolaunch has previously launched 140 smallsats for its customers and continues to see increasing demand for its launch and integration services across the global launch and small satellite market.
Firefly will leverage Exolaunch’s payload integration expertise and flight-proven launch hardware: shock-free microsatellite separation systems CarboNIX and cubesat deployer EXOpod along with EXObox sequencers and EXOport multi-satellite adapters, to help ensure successful joint missions as part of the Alpha launch manifest through 2022 and beyond.
Firefly has completed acceptance testing of its Flight 1 Alpha vehicle, which has been delivered to Firefly’s Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) launch site for integration. Following an upcoming static fire, Firefly will prepare for Alpha’s maiden launch.
“This agreement between Firefly and Exolaunch brings together two complementary partners focused on providing affordable space access to a growing number of government, commercial, scientific and academic missions,” said Dr. Tom Markusic, Firefly Aerospace CEO. “Exolaunch is one of the leading payload aggregators and integration providers and will work closely with our Firefly team in filling capacity aboard Alpha launch vehicles and meeting the unprecedented demand for space missions over the years ahead.”
“Exolaunch and Firefly Aerospace share a common goal of opening space to exciting new levels of exploration and economic opportunities, and we look forward to contributing to the success of the Alpha launch vehicle in its quest to affordably deliver spacecraft into orbit,” said Jeanne Medvedeva, VP of Launch Services, Exolaunch. “Discussions with a broad range of government and commercial missions are already well underway, as Exolaunch brings both dedicated and rideshare missions to upcoming launches aboard the Alpha rocket.”
Firefly’s Director of International Business Development, Alona Kolisnyk added, “This partnership between Exolaunch and Firefly Aerospace will drive a steady cadence of missions on Alpha, providing unique launch opportunities for Exolaunch and its clients. We look forward to many successful missions together.”
