Stairway to Seven mission tested and validated key Alpha Block II upgrades ahead of Flight 8<\/p>\n
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif, March 11, 2026 \u2013 Firefly Aerospace<\/a> (Nasdaq: FLY), a market leading space and defense technology company, today announced the successful launch of its Alpha Flight 7 Stairway to Seven<\/a> mission. Alpha lifted off from Firefly\u2019s Space Launch Complex 2 at the Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5:50 pm PDT on March 11 before completing an orbital insertion and delivering a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n Firefly\u2019s Alpha rocket also performed a stage two engine relight and validated key Alpha Block II upgrades, including a new in-house avionics suite and enhanced thermal protection system, ahead of the full Block II configuration upgrade<\/a> planned for Flight 8.<\/p>\n \u201cAlpha Flight 7 was flawlessly executed with all mission requirements completed, further proving the resiliency, innovation, and passion of the Firefly team,\u201d said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. \u201cOver the last several months, we took a hard look at our processes across engineering, production, test, integration, and operations and invested the time required to make a series of improvements to ensure a higher level of quality and reliability in every Alpha we deliver and launch as we move to our Block II upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n The Firefly team is now working to complete the final milestones for Alpha Flight 8 that is set to launch the full Block II configuration upgrade designed to enhance reliability and manufacturability across the vehicle. The upgrades include a 7-foot increase to Alpha\u2019s length, consolidated batteries and avionics built in house, improved thermal protection system, and stronger carbon composite structures built with automated machinery.<\/p>\n \u201cFlight 7 served as a critical opportunity to validate Alpha\u2019s performance ahead of our Block II upgrade, and this team knocked it out of the park,\u201d said Adam Oakes, Vice President of Launch at Firefly Aerospace. \u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud of the Firefly team for continuing to define perseverance. We have full confidence in our Alpha rocket, and we\u2019re committed to continuous improvement as we roll out Block II. We want to thank Space Launch Delta 30 and our customers for their ongoing collaboration and support.\u201d<\/p>\n About Firefly Aerospace<\/p>\n Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space \u2013 anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice. Firefly is also the only company to achieve a fully successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly\u2019s engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation. The company\u2019s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit\u00a0www.fireflyspace.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Forward-Looking Statement<\/p>\n This press release contains\u00a0\u201cforward-looking statements\u201d including, but not limited to, statements regarding the\u00a0expectations\u00a0regarding Alpha Flight 8, the\u00a0benefits\u00a0and expectations\u00a0of the Alpha Block II upgrade and other statements regarding Firefly\u2019s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions, future events, or performance that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as\u00a0\u201cset,\u201d \u201cprepare,\u201d\u00a0\u201cmay,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d \u201cexpects,\u201d \u201cplans,\u201d \u201canticipates,\u201d \u201ccould,\u201d \u201cwould,\u201d \u201cintends,\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cbelieves.\u201d There\u00a0may also be negative words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. Not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. These statements are based on management\u2019s current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future developments, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We cannot assure you that the events reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur; actual events could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks and uncertainties of our ordinary business operations and conditions in the general economy and markets in which we compete, the forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to the risks, uncertainties, and other factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange\u00a0Commission, including our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2025, which risks, uncertainties, and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Any\u00a0forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date as of which such statement is made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events; etc.<\/p>\n Media Contact<\/p>\n [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n Video\/Image Gallery<\/p>\n