Firefly Aerospace, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, is making significant strides in the development of a new medium-lift rocket that aims to incorporate a recoverable booster for reuse. The rocket, currently known as the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV), is set to feature a return-to-launch-site propulsive landing, as revealed during a recent visit to Firefly’s rocket factory in Briggs, Texas.

Bill Weber, Firefly’s CEO, emphasized the importance of reusability for rockets in this class, citing economic advantages and enhanced competitiveness in pricing for customers. The move towards rocket reuse aligns Firefly with other industry players like Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, and Stoke Space, all of which are working on developing medium-class rockets with varying degrees of reusability.

Rocket Lab, known for its Electron launcher, is now focusing on the Neutron rocket, while Relativity Space is progressing with the Terran R rocket. Stoke Space, on the other hand, is exploring a unique rocket design featuring a reusable booster and upper stage. These companies are gearing up to challenge SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, a prominent player in the market.

The Medium Launch Vehicle by Firefly is poised to join the lineup of launch providers for national security missions, alongside SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin. The rocket’s recovery plan includes a return-to-launch-site propulsive landing, a strategy that aligns with the company’s commitment to reusability.

While Firefly had previously kept details of its rocket reuse plans under wraps, recent revelations indicate a strategic focus on architecting for reusability from the ground up. The MLV program manager, Merritt d’Elia, highlighted the intention to design the rocket with reusability as a core principle, setting the stage for potential downrange landings on barges at sea, akin to practices employed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.