CEDAR PARK, Texas — When most people think of the modern space race, one name dominates the conversation: SpaceX.

But just outside Austin, a Cedar Park-based company is quietly making history—and positioning itself at the center of both space exploration and national defense.

Firefly Aerospace is not only launching rockets. It is already on the moon.

A Texas-Based Space Powerhouse

At its headquarters in Cedar Park and a massive 200-acre test facility in Briggs, Firefly Aerospace is building and firing rocket engines daily across six test stands.

The company is part of a new era of commercial space competition defined by massive investments, global stakes, and rapid innovation.

CEO Jason Kim describes Firefly as more than a launch company.

“We’re a space and defense company that does the hardest missions in space to support national security, commercial tech, as well as space exploration—all to keep America at the forefront,” Kim said.

A Historic Moon Landing

In 2025, Firefly made history when its Blue Ghost spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to successfully land on the Moon.

The mission marked a turning point for the company.

“It gave the team a sense of pride,” Kim said. “But we immediately went back into mission operations because we had a 14-day mission to carry out—and the team nailed it.”

That mission delivered more than 120 gigabytes of scientific data, helping lay the groundwork for future human missions to the moon.

But for Firefly, the landing was just the beginning.

“It allowed us to get flight heritage all the way to cislunar space and then land on the moon,” Kim said. “Capabilities not only to support a moon base, but also missions where you’ve got to go from point A to point B quickly and reliably.”

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Expanding Into Defense and AI

That precision—navigating hundreds of thousands of miles and hitting a target—is exactly what the Pentagon is now prioritizing.

Firefly has moved aggressively into defense, acquiring AI firm SciTech for $855 million.

The company brings more than four decades of experience in high-stakes national security missions.

According to Kim, SciTech’s technology is already proving critical in real-world conflicts.

“In the first 30 days of the Iran conflict, the FORGE program took data from missile warning and tracking spacecraft and turned it into actionable observations that helped keep warfighters and allies safe,” he said.

The integration of artificial intelligence allows Firefly to process massive amounts of satellite data faster than human analysts—turning raw information into near-instant decisions.

A Role in Missile Defense

Firefly is now one of 12 prime contractors selected for the Pentagon’s $3.2 billion space-based interceptor program, often referred to as part of the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative.

“These threats are lethal, quick, and maneuverable,” Kim said. “AI is what gives us an advantage to counter that threat.”

The company’s Alpha rocket also offers a unique capability: rapid launch.

Firefly says it can potentially send a payload into orbit within 24 hours’ notice—far faster than traditional timelines that can take weeks or months.

Next Stop: The Far Side of the Moon

Back in Cedar Park, Firefly engineers are already assembling Blue Ghost Mission 2.

The spacecraft—a 22-foot stack carrying NASA and commercial payloads—is targeting something never achieved by the United States: a landing on the far side of the moon.

“Once we launch, it will be about 45 days before we attempt landing,” Kim said. “That will be historic.”