Source | Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace Inc. (Cedar Park, Texas, U.S.) has been awarded a $21.81 million contract to launch the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) VICTUS SOL tactically responsive space (TacRS) mission. VICTUS SOL is an early operational capability to enable the U.S. to rapidly respond to on-orbit needs and provide flexibility to combatant commanders.

The VICTUS SOL launch service contract was competed on the Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4 Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract managed by the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) within SSC’s Assured Access to Space Program Executive Office (PEO). The Space Safari Office, within SSC’s PEO for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power, is the lead organization for the USSF’s TacRS initiatives and is the end-to-end mission lead for VICTUS SOL.

“With VICTUS SOL, Firefly is humbled and proud to continue serving the Space Force on tactically responsive space with two follow-on missions after VICTUS NOX,” says Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “As our country’s deterrence and responsive space needs grow exponentially, Firefly has ramped up its Alpha production line to meet that demand and provide flexibility to support the Space Force’s urgent needs that keep us ahead of the game.”

Alpha is a small-lift rocket featuring composites in many of its primary structures such as linerless, cryogenic propellant tanks and the rocket’s airframe, all in pursuit of optimized payload capacity and cost-effective performance (read “The Alpha launch vehicle: Designing performance in, cost out”). It is nearly 30 meters long, with a fairing diameter of 2.2 meters.

VICTUS SOL builds on the lessons learned from the VICTUS NOX and VICTUS HAZE missions. Firefly says it will continue to launch other government and commercial missions while maintaining an Alpha rocket on standby for the Space Force. Then at an unknown time, the Space Force will give Firefly a notice to launch for space vehicle deployment. “We’re further improving our readiness to provide a rapid response capability,” says Kim.

VICTUS SOL is the third U.S. Space Force mission Firefly will support with its responsive Alpha launch service. In September 2023, Firefly successfully launched the U.S. Space Force’s VICTUS NOX mission following a 24-hour notice, reportedly becoming the first and only company to achieve this milestone. Later this year, Firefly will also support the U.S. Space Force VICTUS HAZE mission as part of a contract with True Anomaly to be ready to launch its space vehicle for a TacRS launch.   

Firefly’s on-demand launch and on-orbit capabilities are enabled by the company’s co-located manufacturing and test facilities, vertical integration of its four vehicle lines and streamlined launch operations. As an operational 1-metric ton rocket, Alpha’s high mass-to-orbit performance further enables Firefly to meet customer demand for rapid, affordable launch solutions when and where customers need their spacecraft deployed.