Firefly Aerospace Awarded $13 Million JPL Contract for SkyFall Mars Mission Aeroshell

Firefly Aerospace has received a $13 million subcontract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to manufacture, test, and deliver the aeroshell for NASA's SkyFall mission to Mars, which is currently targeted for launch in late 2028.

The SkyFall mission, managed by JPL, will deploy three Mars helicopters derived from the Ingenuity technology demonstrator to conduct scientific investigations, perform airborne subsurface mapping, and prospect for resources that could support future human missions to Mars.

The mission will use a new "SkyFall Maneuver," in which the helicopters are released during descent and fly themselves to the Martian surface, eliminating the need for a traditional landing platform.

Under the subcontract, Firefly will develop the mission's aeroshell, including both the backshell and heatshield, through its newly established Gloworks innovation lab.

Manufacturing and testing will take place at the company's Rocket Ranch facility in Briggs, Texas, leveraging carbon composite technologies developed for Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar landers, Elytra orbital vehicles, and Alpha and Eclipse launch vehicles.

Chief Technology Officer Shea Ferring said the award demonstrates the company's ability to apply its experience in composite manufacturing to new planetary exploration missions while advancing technologies through its Gloworks innovation initiative.

Vice President of Spacecraft Ray Allensworth said technologies and operational experience gained through the company's lunar missions are directly applicable to future Mars exploration efforts, helping to reduce costs and accelerate development timelines for deep space missions.

Image Credits: Firefly Aerospace