Texas Space Commission Awards Grant to Firefly Aerospace
Austin, TX - The Texas Space Commission (TSC) announced a Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant of up to $8,200,000 has been awarded to Firefly Aerospace, Inc. for constructing their Central Texas Spacecraft Development Center.
This facility will expand Firefly’s spacecraft production and integration infrastructure by increasing capacity to support orbiting space vehicles and lunar landers. This investment will strengthen Texas’ position in the rapidly growing spacecraft market while supporting missions for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and emerging commercial customers.
This award will enable Firefly Aerospace to scale spacecraft development for both lunar and on-orbit missions, supporting a growing global market. TSC funding will reimburse eligible expenditures for equipment, research and development, salaries, and other direct costs associated with the project. This grant has a current termination date of July 31, 2027.
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About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission across cislunar space and beyond. Learn more.
About the Texas Space Commission
Established by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 3447, authored by Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D., the Texas Space Commission advances innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace to strengthen the state’s proven leadership across civil, commercial, and military domains. To date, the total appropriation made by the Legislature for the SEARF Trust is $450 million. Learn more.
Contact
To submit a media inquiry to the Texas Space Commission, please send an email to: TSCPressInquiries@space.texas.gov