CEDAR PARK, TX, Aug 18, 2026 – Firefly Aerospace will design a satellite deorbit mission under a new contract with the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Space Development Agency (SDA). The contract covers a preliminary design review (PDR) for a mission using Firefly’s Elytra spacecraft, and completing the review makes Firefly eligible to compete for the next phase, including launch and spacecraft operations.
Under the mission design, Elytra would launch into low Earth orbit, maneuver to the client space object, perform proximity operations, survey the client, and complete the deorbit service. Firefly’s deorbit system on Elytra can operate in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), or geostationary Earth orbit (GEO).
“Firefly is known for performing some of the hardest missions in space, and this mission is no exception,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “In alignment with the White House order to prioritize orbital debris mitigation, our team designed a highly efficient, cost-effective solution for our Elytra vehicles to deorbit satellites nearing end of life. This dialable system can deorbit satellites of vastly different sizes and configurations to help mitigate the growing space debris challenge our industry is up against.”
Firefly is also under contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for a space domain awareness mission with Elytra no earlier than 2027. Elytra use flight-proven components from Firefly’s launch vehicles and lunar landers, including core avionics, composite structures, and the propulsion system that landed Blue Ghost on the Moon.
Source: Firefly Aerospace
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace, headquartered in Cedar Park, TX, develops launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space transport systems for commercial and government clients in the aerospace and defense sectors. Founded in 2017, the company provides small- and medium-lift rockets, lunar lander missions, and satellite deployment support for orbital and deep-space operations. Its customers include government space agencies, defense organizations, and commercial satellite operators.
