Firefly Wins $13 Million NASA JPL SkyFall Mars Aeroshell Contract for 2028 Launch
Updated
Updated · Firefly Aerospace · Jul 7
Firefly Wins $13 Million NASA JPL SkyFall Mars Aeroshell Contract for 2028 Launch
3 articles · Updated · Firefly Aerospace · Jul 7
Summary
$13 million from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will fund Firefly Aerospace to manufacture, test and deliver the aeroshell for the SkyFall Mars mission, targeted to launch in late 2028.
The aeroshell — including the backshell and heatshield — will be developed in Firefly’s new Gloworks lab and built and qualified at its Rocket Ranch in Texas before JPL conducts additional environmental testing.
SkyFall will use the entry capsule to release three Mars helicopters during descent, letting them fly to the surface to collect high-resolution imagery and subsurface radar data, including searches for water ice.
Firefly said the work extends composite technologies used on its Blue Ghost landers, Elytra orbiters and Alpha and Eclipse vehicles, as the company expands production for multiple lunar and planetary missions.
Is a $13 million Mars contract a major win for Firefly or just a stepping stone to bigger deep-space ambitions?
Will the risky 'SkyFall Maneuver' become the new standard for landing on other worlds, or is it a one-off gamble?
Is NASA's bet on commercial partners for critical Mars missions accelerating exploration or adding unacceptable risk?
Firefly Aerospace and NASA’s SkyFall Mars Mission: Nuclear-Powered Mid-Air Helicopter Deployment Set for 2028
Overview
Firefly Aerospace, building on its successful Blue Ghost lunar mission, is now applying proven technologies and lessons learned to accelerate and reduce costs for Mars exploration. The company is preparing to play a key role in NASA’s SkyFall mission, which aims to bring new speed and affordability to planetary exploration. By leveraging its experience in efficient, cost-effective off-Earth missions, Firefly is helping to pioneer innovative approaches for Mars, ensuring that advancements made on the Moon directly benefit upcoming missions to Mars and beyond.