Firefly is ready to launch a new rocket again after its last rocket exploded mid flight
Published on Oct 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Firefly is ready to launch a new rocket after its previous rocket exploded mid-flight.
The American aerospace firm was granted permission to resume launches back in August.
This came four months after its Alpha rocket failed to reach orbit.
Now that the Federal Aviation Administration has given the green light, the company is wasting no time in getting back to business.
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Firefly is getting ready to launch a new rocket
According to an earnings call in September, CEO Jason Kim said that Alpha Flight 7 was on the way.
And we’re not talking about some undefined point in the future.
He said it would be expected to launch ‘in the coming weeks’.
Two launches are expected to take place before the year wraps up.
The company has been a masterclass in how to turn a failure into motivation.
Firefly’s Chief Engineer Jordi Paredes Garcia noted:
“Technical challenges aren’t roadblocks – they’re catalysts.”
And it seems that investors haven’t been scared off either.
The company’s stock shot up five percent after the FAA gave Firefly the go-ahead to resume launches.
Fingers crossed that things go better this time around.
Firefly has had a rocky road since it began, with four of its six launches since 2021 being partial or complete failures.
But it’s continued to be well-funded, with a valuation of nearly $9.84 billion.
With NASA contracts and a deal with Lockheed Martin, the company isn’t doing too badly at all.
We’re seeing more interest in space exploration
We may not be at the height of interest we saw during the Space Race, but it certainly feels close.
It feels like tons of organizations are putting resources into getting up into space.
Back in March, Firefly sent a ‘Blue Ghost’ to the moon to take photos and collect samples.
Then there’s SpaceX, which recently completed its 11th Starship test flight, all with the aim of getting us to Mars.
And who could forget this year’s biggest space story, when Katy Perry took a 10-minute trip up into space?
It’s almost impossible to comprehend how big our universe is.
And isn’t that all the more reason for us to explore as much of it as possible?
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
