Northrop Grumman Invests $50 Million in Firefly Aerospace for Rocket Development

Published 1 days agoNOC

Northrop Grumman Invests $50 Million in Firefly Aerospace for Rocket Development

Northrop Grumman has committed a $50 million investment into Firefly Aerospace as part of a collaborative effort to advance their joint rocket project, the 'Eclipse.' This medium-lift launch vehicle is poised to undertake various missions, ranging from space station resupply to commercial satellite launches, with its first anticipated launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, potentially occurring in 2026.

The investment underlines Northrop Grumman's strategy to enhance the development and production of the Eclipse rocket. It also highlights a growing trend among defense contractors to partner with burgeoning tech companies, aiming to spur innovation and improve operational efficiency. The partnership combines the expertise of Northrop Grumman's Antares rockets with the innovative technology from Firefly's Alpha rockets.

Firefly Aerospace has been making strides in space technology, recently marked by the successful lunar landing of its Blue Ghost uncrewed spacecraft earlier this year. Their accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as indicated by the company's valuation exceeding $2 billion in November 2024, following a significant $175 million funding round. These achievements and their new partnership with Northrop Grumman position Firefly as a notable player in the aerospace industry. Reuters reported on this strategic development.

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