BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A new, cheaper way to launch satellites and scientific payloads into space is on the horizon.

Florida-based Starfighters Space said it plans to use F-104 Starfighter jets to develop a lower-cost way to launch small satellites and scientific payloads into space.

According to the company, its F-104 Starfighters are the last flying aircraft of their kind in the world. The jets can fly at about 1,200 mph, more than twice the speed of sound.

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CEO Tim Franta said the company is focused on launching smaller payloads into low-Earth orbit rather than competing with companies that use large rockets to carry heavier payloads.

“Elon and Blue Origin, they’re trucking companies — very big, massive rockets and satellites,” Franta said. “Think of us not even as Uber but Uber Eats. We’re delivering something very small to a specific spot and we’re trying to do it inexpensively.”

Starfighters Space went public in December 2025. Franta said he is working to find the right investors to help the company achieve its goal of launching payloads into space using the aircraft.

“If it was just the rocket that would be the easy part,” Franta said. “But you have to get the funding and you have to make the business case.”

Franta said the opportunity has come full circle. He previously served as chief of staff for the Florida Space Authority and helped build the company’s hangar more than 20 years ago.

The company operates from Kennedy Space Center, where its F-104s use the same runway once used by NASA‘s space shuttle.

Franta described the aircraft as safe but demanding to fly.

“It’s an extremely safe aircraft. We’ve had more than 20 years of safe operations, but it is a race car. You have to know what you’re doing,” he said.