Firefly to Debut Upgraded Rocket Configuration on Next Test Flight

CEO Jason Kim says the company’s Alpha model will debut its Block II setup as soon as this summer.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 06, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Firefly announced the Block II configuration of its flagship Alpha rocket in January. It could fly as soon as this summer. [Credit: Firefly Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Firefly Aerospace plans to launch an upgraded Alpha Block II rocket this summer, featuring enhanced capabilities and reliability, following mixed success with its initial Alpha configuration.
The company is also developing the reusable, medium-lift Eclipse launch vehicle with Northrop Grumman, targeting its debut this year to serve a larger payload market.
Beyond rockets, Firefly is advancing its lunar exploration efforts, having completed the first successful commercial lunar landing and now developing larger landers for future NASA missions.

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Burgeoning space launch provider Firefly Aerospace plans to debut an upgraded version of its flagship Alpha rocket as soon as this summer, CEO Jason Kim said Monday.

During the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call Kim revealed that Alpha’s more powerful Block II configuration is expected to handle the two-stage rocket’s next test flight. He said the company has completed qualification testing for that vehicle’s first- and second-stage engines. The company has not disclosed a customer for the test flight, which will be its eighth with Alpha.