Firefly Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ: FLY) has secured a $13 million subcontract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to manufacture, test, and deliver the aeroshell for the SkyFall mission to Mars. The contract underscores the company's role in supporting critical infrastructure for deep space exploration, specifically targeting the delivery of components for a mission scheduled for launch in late 2028. The company is expanding its production capabilities, having doubled its Texas facilities and enlarged its cleanroom to support assembly-line output of landers and orbital vehicles for multiple missions annually.

The SkyFall mission, managed by JPL, will deploy three heritage Mars helicopters to perform science and demonstrate airborne subsurface mapping and resource prospecting. These operations are intended to pave the way for future American astronauts on Mars by identifying viable resources and mapping the subsurface environment.

Mission Objectives

The primary goal of the SkyFall mission is to advance scientific understanding and technical capabilities required for human exploration. The mission will utilize existing helicopter designs to conduct aerial surveys and prospecting activities on the Martian surface.

Contract Scope

Under the terms of the subcontract, Firefly Aerospace is responsible for the production, testing, and final delivery of the aeroshell. This component is essential for protecting the mission's payloads during atmospheric entry, descent, and landing on Mars. Firefly is also advancing multiple lunar missions, including four upcoming flights under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, and recently secured a JPL subcontract to deliver drones above the Moon’s south pole with its Elytra spacecraft for the MoonFall mission.

Firefly Aerospace Inc secured a $144 million NASA contract to deliver science payloads to the Moon, targeting a 2028 launch. The award, part of the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, aims to demonstrate rapid and reliable commercial lunar delivery. Separately, the company advanced infrastructure milestones for a new orbital launch site in Sweden with SSC Space, expanding its global launch capabilities.

NASA Contract Details

The $144 million contract covers a Blue Ghost lunar mission to the Moon's near side. Firefly plans to complete the mission in approximately two years, roughly half the development time of its Blue Ghost Mission 1, by leveraging a standardized lander design and operational experience. The mission will deliver three NASA science instruments: the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) for precision laser ranging, the Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (LETS) to measure radiation, and the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) to study plume-surface interactions during touchdown.

"This latest mission award will help prove that commercial lunar delivery can be rapid, repeatable, and reliable," CEO Jason Kim said. The company is utilizing flight data from its first successful lunar landing to improve future missions and accelerate production. Future missions are planned for the Moon's far side, Gruithuisen Domes, and the south pole using the Blue Ghost lander and Elytra orbital vehicle.

Sweden Launch Site Progress

In a separate development, Firefly and SSC Space completed key infrastructure and regulatory milestones for orbital launches from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden, with the first launch targeted for 2028. The companies finalized core infrastructure at Launch Complex 3C, including the launch control center, payload processing facility, and integration building.

Regulatory cooperation advanced through a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Swedish National Space Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, building on the existing Technology Safeguards Agreement. Additionally, SSC Space signed a 209 million Swedish kronor agreement with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration to support satellite launches for the Swedish Armed Forces. Launch Complex 3C will support Firefly's Alpha rocket and expand orbital launch access from mainland Europe.

Technical Analysis and Market Reaction

Firefly shares traded about 1% higher on Thursday following the contract announcement. However, the stock remains in a longer-term downtrend, trading 7.5% below its 20-day simple moving average and 21.6% below its 50-day simple moving average. The shares are holding just 0.2% below the 200-day simple moving average, making the $28-$29 range a critical technical level. Momentum indicators remain cautious, with the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) below its signal line. Key resistance sits near $34.50, while initial support is around $24.00.