Firefly to Test Launch NASA CubeSat; Thomas Markusic, Garrett Skrobot Comment

Firefly Space Systems has been awarded a $5.5 million contract to test launch NASA’s CubeSat into space in March 2018.

Thomas Markusic, Firefly’s CEO, said Wednesday the company developed Firefly Alpha over the last 18 months.

Firefly Alpha is designed to lift a 881-pound payload to a 248-mile equatorial orbit.

Garrett Skrobot, lead for the educational launch of nanosatellites mission for NASA’s Launch Services Program, added that CubeSats “are still experimental satellites, but the technology they are employing is mature enough to use in these new ways.”

Cedar Park, Texas-based Firefly develops space launch system for the under-served small satellite market.