Firefly Aerospace Preparation for the First Rocket Launch

How much fund has been raised so far for the Firefly rocket launch campaign? As per the current reports, Firefly Aerospace has successfully collected a whopping amount of $75 million. Since DADA Holdings held the funding event, more than one company invested in the program, including XBTO Ventures, Canon Ball LLC, Astera Institute, Raven One Ventures, Reuben Brothers Limited, and SMS Capital Investment LLC.

Based in Cedar Park, its team is building rockets that can travel successfully to low-Earth orbit and even to the Moon in the future. The recent launch was to happen last year, but it got postponed then. But now, the company is ready to launch its first flagship rocket in June from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located in California. It’s called Alpha. This 95 ft. long rocket can carry a payload of 1,000 to 8,000 kg. As per the recent updates, the cost of one flight will be no less than $15 million.

The company will not stop its funding program until it gets more investments in the amount of $300 million. They want to collect this amount for the recent rocket launch and the upcoming programs. As CEO Tom Markusic said, the fund raised will help the company reach its current goal and aim for future ones.

What Has Max Polyakov Got to Say About the Fundraising?

Max Polyakov, the Ukrainian investor of the company, feels that Firefly Aerospace needs to connect with more investors for successful launches in the future. He suggests so because Firefly is taking on new projects like lunar payload delivery. 

When in 2017 Firefly got into bankruptcy, Max Polyakov was the one who helped them come out of it. Even though he quitted his position on the company's board of directors, he is still the largest shareholder of Firefly.

How Firefly Plans to Scale Up the Company in the Future?

According to Tom Markusic, the company hires talented professionals who can manage every technical duty like an expert. The number of employees doubled up since the last year. They are also recruiting new leaders for various business departments, and they aren't going to stop the recruitment process anytime soon. As Markusic said, they are even planning to conduct a nationwide talent search in the nearest future to hire the best technical experts for their company.

Conclusion

This February, Firefly has also got a $93.3 million contract from NASA to send ten payloads to the Moon in 2023. The agreement clearly states that the job has to be done using the Blue Ghost lunar lander. Firefly Aerospace became one of those few spacecraft companies that have got the opportunity to work with NASA. Currently, they have very ambitious plans and almost everything to bring them into life. Upcoming rocket launch is going to be a big boost for the company to become a winner of the space industry.