Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha FLTA007 rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base ahead of launch. Image: Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace said it will be at least another two months before it’s ready to launch its next Alpha rocket. Alpha Flight 8 (FLTA008) will debut the Block 2 configuration of the rocket.
During its second quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Firefly CEO Jason Kim said the next two Alpha launches are now expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“We are preparing for acceptance testing of Alpha in the next few weeks, followed by delivery to Vandenberg, static fire, payload integration and then launch,” Kim told investors. “As with any flight, we’ll disclose more specific timing as we get closer to launch.”
Following a successful launch of Flight 7 on March 11, Kim said the goal is to close out the year with three Alpha missions. He said that the rockets for Flight 10 and Flight 11 are “flowing through our production line” and stated that they sold the majority of the company’s 2027 launch manifest.
