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Rocket Report: Northrop Backs Firefly and Names Its Rocket; Xodiac Will Fly No More
- Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace announced on May 29, 2024, their partnership to develop a medium-lift rocket named Eclipse, based in the US with launches from Wallops Island, Virginia.
- The collaboration follows Northrop having used its last Russian-built first-stage engines for the Antares rocket in 2023, prompting the development of Antares 330 with Firefly's Miranda engines as an interim step.
- Eclipse will feature a redesigned first stage derived from Antares 330 and Firefly's Alpha propulsion, aiming to carry about 16,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit and support commercial, scientific, and national security missions.
- Northrop Grumman invested $50 million in Firefly’s $175 million Series D round to accelerate Eclipse’s development; CEO Jason Kim called Eclipse a "sweet spot" for National Security Space Launch Lane 1 programs.
- The partnership intends to restore Northrop’s medium-lift launch capacity domestically by 2026, positioning Eclipse as a competitive option below Falcon 9 and Vulcan, while expanding government and commercial launch services.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Northrop invests $50 million into Firefly for launch vehicle development
Northrop Grumman is investing $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further development of a medium-lift launch vehicle with a new name. The post Northrop invests $50 million into Firefly for launch vehicle development appeared first on SpaceNews.
Northrop Grumman Invests $50M in Firefly’s Eclipse
Northrop Grumman ($NOC) invested $50M in Firefly Aerospace’s Series D to accelerate the production of Firefly’s medium-lift vehicle, now named Eclipse. The investment—which is added to a $175M Series D Firefly closed in November—will allow Firefly to quickly hire dedicated Eclipse engineers, and fuel more engine and hardware tests to meet the expected first launch in 2026. Enhance, enhance: Eclipse is the product of scaled-up tech from Firefly’s…
Northrop invests $50m in Firefly Aerospace to advance Eclipse launch vehicle - SatellitePro ME
Photo credit: Firefly Aerospace Northrop Grumman Corporation has invested $50m into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, now known as Eclipse. The companies continue to make progress in the development of Eclipse flight hardware, with qualification testing underway and more than 60 Miranda engine hot fire tests performed to date. Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said: “Firefly is incred…
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