WASHINGTON — Firefly Aerospace, a leader in space transportation, has been awarded a $21.8 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to facilitate an orbital launch under the military’s rapid-response space initiative, marking a significant milestone as the company’s third such contract.

This agreement, revealed by the Space Systems Command on February 13, pertains to a mission referred to as Victus Sol, which will employ Firefly’s Alpha rocket. This launch is part of the Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program, designed to showcase the Space Force’s ability to swiftly deploy satellites in response to national security crises.

A representative from Space Safari, the organization overseeing the TacRS initiative from their New Mexico office, stated that specifics regarding the payload, mission goals, and schedule are confidential at this time.

The recent contract demonstrates a pivotal transition in the TacRS program from demonstration flights to active missions. According to the Space Safari spokesperson, “Victus Sol is advancing beyond TacRS demonstrations and will be preparation for operational use,” reflecting the program’s maturation into a framework for deploying crucial military assets.

Firefly CEO Jason Kim emphasized that “this mission will enhance our operational capacity by maintaining a launch vehicle and space asset on standby, allowing us to continue with other commercial and government missions until required by the Space Force.”

In September 2023, Firefly successfully conducted a TacRS mission named Victus Nox, and plans to launch Victus Haze later this year, which will deploy a satellite developed by True Anomaly.

Headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, Firefly secured the Victus Sol contract through a competitive selection process under the Space Force’s Orbital Services Program-4, a versatile contract arrangement managed by the Rocket Systems Launch Program of Space Systems Command.

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