Firefly Aerospace Secures Two Alpha Launches From Sweden Starting in 2028

Firefly Aerospace has signed a multi-launch agreement with SSC Space for two Alpha rocket missions from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden.

Targeted to launch no earlier than 2028, the missions will support Swedish national security customers as well as commercial rideshare payloads, expanding orbital launch options from mainland Europe.

Under the agreement, SSC Space has secured the full payload capacity of both missions and will allocate space to government and commercial customers.

Firefly CEO Jason Kim said the agreement demonstrates demand from European customers for orbital launch capabilities closer to home and represents the beginning of a longer-term multi-launch partnership between the companies.

The missions will launch from Launch Complex 3C at Esrange, where Firefly and SSC Space have established the regulatory and infrastructure requirements needed to support Alpha operations.

Key infrastructure, including the launch control center, payload processing facility, vehicle integration building, tracking and control systems, and security and storage facilities, is now in place, with final pad construction underway.

SSC Space CEO and Group President Charlotta Sund said the partnership will strengthen Europe’s commercial space capabilities while contributing to resilience and strategic autonomy in the defense sector.

The agreement is part of Firefly’s broader “launch as a franchise” model, which the company says is intended to expand access to launch sites and provide more responsive and diversified access to space for government and commercial customers.

Image Credits: Firefly Space