Would Focus On Growing Small Satellite Market

Startup rocket company Firefly is reportedly in negotiations to build a $52 million factory and launch site near Cape Canaveral, FL, according to sources familiar with the project.

Reuters reports that the company, which is based in Texas, hopes to cash in on the expected boom in small satellite launches in the coming years.

A project code-named "Maricopa" was announced by Space Florida in November, but few details have been released about the program. Two people who requested anonymity said Firefly was involved in Maricopa, but no agreements have been finalized.

Firefly hopes to fly its Alpha rocket in December of this year. The rocket is designed to carry 2,200 pounds into LEO at a cost of about $15 million per launch, according to the report. In December, Firefly announced that it had entered into a launch services agreement with Spaceflight. Through the LBSA, Spaceflight will offer dedicated rideshare launch opportunities on the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle and work with Firefly to manifest excess Alpha capacity. In November, Firefly was selected by NASA for award of a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract.

Firefly was founded in 2014 by former SpaceX and NASA engineer Tom Markusic. The company believes its main competitors are government-subsidized foreign companies such as the Indian Space Research Organization.

It was not clear when the Florida launch site would be completed.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report, www.fireflyspace.com