Space Force taps Firefly for rapid response launches

Firefly Aerospace has won its third contract with Space Force to provide launch services that can quickly deliver space capabilities to soldiers.

Space Force awarded the $21.8 million contract to launch the VICTUS SOL tactically-responsive space mission capability. The service branch seeks to more rapidly respond to the needs of the combatant commands.

The company will launch one payload, but will maintain one of its Alpha rockets on standby that Space Force can tap as the need arises.

“The VICTUS SOL launch will provide the operational capability to have a launch vehicle and space vehicle on standby while we continue to launch other commercial and government missions until we are called up by the Space Force,” Firefly CEO Jason Kim said in a release Thursday.

This is the third contract Firefly has won three contracts to provide rapid response capabilities to Space Force.

In September 2023, Firefly launched the VICTUS NOX mission following a 24-hour notice, a Space Force goal. Later this year, the company will support VICTUS HAZE as part of a contract with True Anomaly to prepare the latter's space vehicle for a tactically-responsive space mission.

The contracts came through the Space Safari program and the Orbital Services Program 4 contract vehicle.