Firefly Aerospace recently inked a $1.3 billion contract with fellow Texas space firm AST SpaceMobile to provide dozens of state-of-the-art rocket engines for the company’s mission of establishing a space-based cellular broadband network. Firefly is headquartered in Cedar Park, but has a massive manufacturing plant, also known as “Rocket Ranch” in the small northern Burnet County community of Briggs. 

Under the contract, Firefly will provide 36 total rocket engines to AST SpaceMobile and provide a license for the company to manufacture them themselves. 

“This is a bold transformational deal for Firefly, for AST SpaceMobile, and for the space industry,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, in a Nov. 6 media release. “When a company sets out to build its own rocket, the engine is the hardest, highest-stakes decision they make, and AST SpaceMobile chose to partner with Firefly for its most powerful rocket engines. It’s a true win-win for both companies: AST SpaceMobile gets control of its own launch schedule, and Firefly gets added funds to rapidly expand our rocket production and reinforce the supply of launch vehicles to address record demand from the industry.”

According to Firefly, this new influx of funds will allow the firm to quickly expand its staff, manufacturing, and infrastructure, including new test bays at Rocket Ranch in Briggs. 

“The agreement supercharges Firefly’s production system — more test bays at our Rocket Ranch, long-lead materials bought ahead, and a bigger team of engineers and technicians,” Kim said. “This allows us to build and test faster across our launch portfolio, with safety, quality, and reliability built in.”

Learn more about Firefly’s footprint in Burnet County in the 2024 Picayune Magazine story “Firefly Aerospace shoots for the moon from rural Burnet County.”

dakota@thepicayune.com