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 is debuting an upgraded Alpha Block II rocket this summer, featuring significant enhancements for reliability, production, and expanded launch capabilities, following a mixed success rate with its initial Block I configuration.
Beyond Alpha, Firefly is actively developing Eclipse, a larger, reusable medium-lift launch vehicle co-developed with Northrop Grumman, and expanding its lunar capabilities by developing larger landers following the success of Blue Ghost Mission 1.

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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.