Firefly Aerospace Receives $50 Million Investment from Northrop Grumman for the advancement of their Eclipse Launch Vehicle project
Northrop Grumman Corporation and Firefly Aerospace have joined forces to develop a medium-lift launch vehicle named Eclipse. This collaborative project aims to revolutionise the satellite launch industry, with the inaugural launch scheduled to take place from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026.
The Eclipse launch vehicle is designed to transport an impressive 16,300 kg to low Earth orbit or 3,200 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit. It achieves this feat by utilising the same first stage that Firefly is developing for Antares 330, along with Northrop Grumman's Antares platform and Firefly's Alpha rocket technology.
Eclipse is built with flight-proven avionics from the Antares program, enhanced with upgrades such as a larger 5.4-meter payload fairing. The vehicle has undergone extensive testing, with over 60 hot fire tests of the Miranda engine completed in its development.
The collaboration between Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace received a significant boost with a $50 million investment by Northrop Grumman Corporation directly into Firefly Aerospace. This investment is aimed at accelerating the production of the jointly developed Eclipse medium-lift launch vehicle.
The Eclipse launch vehicle is versatile and suitable for launching proliferated constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), geosynchronous orbit (GEO), and trans-lunar injection (TLI). This versatility makes it an attractive option for various satellite deployment missions.
With the Eclipse project, Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace are set to make a significant contribution to the satellite launch industry, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for satellite deployment. The inaugural launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, is eagerly anticipated as a milestone in space exploration.
