Firefly Aerospace Signs Contract with SSC Space for Two Alpha Launches from Esrange Space Center
Firefly expands its partnership with SSC Space through a two-launch Alpha contract from Esrange, advancing orbital access from mainland Europe.
Rhea-AI Summary
Firefly Aerospace (FLY) signed a multi-launch agreement with SSC Space for two Alpha rocket missions from Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, with launches targeted no earlier than 2028. The flights will support Sweden’s national security customers and additional commercial rideshare payloads, aiming to provide orbital launch capability from mainland Europe.
Under the agreement, SSC Space has secured full payload capacity on both launches and can allocate space to its government and commercial clients. The deal extends an existing partnership that has already established transatlantic regulatory frameworks and key Esrange infrastructure, including a launch control center, payload processing facility, vehicle integration building, tracking and control systems, and security and storage facilities, as the parties move toward final pad construction at Launch Complex 3C.
Positive
- Two Alpha launches contracted from Esrange Space Center, targeted no earlier than 2028
- Full payload capacity secured by SSC Space for allocation to government and commercial customers
- Key launch infrastructure completed at Esrange, including control, processing, and integration facilities
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
- Alpha launches
- Two launches
- Multi-launch agreement with SSC Space
- Target launch timing
- No earlier than 2028
- Missions from Esrange Space Center
Historical Context
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Extended Lockheed Martin agreement enabled up to 25 dedicated Alpha launches through 2031
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
payload processing facility technical
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Contract builds on momentum of long-term, multi-launch partnership delivering orbital launch capabilities from mainland Europe
CEDAR PARK, Texas, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY), a market leading space and defense technology company, today announced a multi-launch agreement with SSC Space for two Alpha rocket launches from Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, owned and operated by SSC Space. Targeted to launch no earlier than 2028, the missions will serve Sweden national security customers as well as additional commercial rideshare customers, marking a significant step forward in delivering orbital launch capabilities from mainland Europe.
"This contract validates the demand from European customers for long-awaited orbital launch capabilities directly from mainland Europe,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. "These first two missions are just the start of a long-term, multi-launch partnership with SSC Space that will provide assured access to space for years to come with our proven Alpha rocket. As part of our 'launch as a franchise' model, this partnership serves the critical needs of SSC Space’s government and commercial customers and provides our nation and NATO allies with the launch site diversification required for resilient, responsive space missions.”
Under the multi-launch agreement, SSC Space secured the full payload capacity and can allocate payload space to its government and commercial customers, providing flexible accommodations and launch opportunities for the European satellite market.
The agreement builds on the momentum of Firefly and SSC Space’s partnership after recently establishing the required transatlantic regulatory frameworks and completing key infrastructure to launch Firefly’s Alpha rocket from Launch Complex 3C at Esrange Space Center. The latest infrastructure includes completion of the launch control center, payload processing facility, launch vehicle integration building, tracking and control systems, and security and storage facilities, as the two companies now progress through final pad construction.
"This agreement underscores the strategic value of the transatlantic space capabilities we are building together with Firefly," said Charlotta Sund, CEO and Group President of SSC Space. "Adding an orbital launch capability to mainland Europe strengthens the continent's capabilities and competitiveness in the commercial space arena, while contributing to greater resilience and strategic autonomy within the defense domain. As demand grows, we look forward to expanding this relationship with Firefly to serve our end customers over the long term and advance our shared space capabilities."
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice and the first to achieve a successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly’s engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation and vertical integration for the company’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.
About SSC Space
SSC Space (formerly Swedish Space Corporation) is a leading global provider of advanced space services, with more than 50 years of experience. We help space organizations, research institutes, commercial and institutional actors from all over the world to get access to space. With local presence on all continents and about 750 committed employees, we offer specialist expertise in satellite communications and satellite control services, spacecraft operations, rocket and balloon systems, launch services and flight test services, as well as engineering, operations and consultancy services for space missions. We enable successful space projects within Earth observation, telecommunications, security, meteorology, navigation and positioning, scientific research and other applications. Among our strongest assets are Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, set out to be a leading provider of satellite launch services from mainland Europe, as well as one of the world’s largest commercial ground station networks for satellite communications. For more information, visit www.sscspace.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” including, but not limited to, statements regarding expectations regarding an target launch date from SSC Space’s Esrange Space Center, opportunities to expand access to space from mainland Europe, statements of Firefly’s chief executive officer and SSC Space’s chief executive officer, and other statements regarding Firefly’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial condition, assumptions, future events, or performance that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “expand,” “momentum,” “may,” “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “would,” “target”, “intends,” “support,” and “believes.” There may also be negative words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. Not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved.
Various risks that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to: our failure to manage our growth effectively, including the increasing technological complexity of our business, and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; the potential for delayed or failed launches, and any failure of our launch vehicles and spacecraft to operate as intended; our inability to deliver software on time or of a quality that our customers demand; the hazards and operational risks that our products and service offerings are exposed to, including the wide and unique range of risks due to the unpredictability of space; the inability to realize our backlog; the fluctuation of our operating results; adverse publicity stemming from any incident involving us, our competitors, or our customers; the failure to adequately protect our proprietary intellectual property rights; our inability to comply with our contractual obligations; and other risk factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future developments, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We cannot assure you that the events reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur; actual events could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of the estimates and other forward-looking statements made in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Media Contacts
Firefly Aerospace: press@fireflyspace.com
SSC Space: philip.ohlsson@sscspace.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85ed6ad4-3280-4318-8bb3-260c434bd15a
FAQ
Who will use the payload capacity on the contracted Alpha launches?
Under the multi-launch agreement, SSC Space has secured the full payload capacity on both Alpha launches and can allocate payload space to its government and commercial customers, including Sweden’s national security customers and additional commercial rideshare users.
What infrastructure has been completed at Esrange Space Center to support Firefly’s Alpha launches?
The partnership has delivered key infrastructure at Esrange’s Launch Complex 3C, including a launch control center, payload processing facility, launch vehicle integration building, tracking and control systems, and security and storage facilities, while final pad construction is still in progress.
How does Firefly describe the broader purpose of this partnership with SSC Space?
Firefly describes the SSC Space partnership as part of its “launch as a franchise” model, intended to serve government and commercial customers and provide the company’s nation and NATO allies with launch site diversification for resilient, responsive space missions.