Firefly wins Pentagon contract to design Elytra deorbit system

The Defense Innovation Unit and Space Development Agency awarded Firefly Aerospace a contract on August 13 to complete a preliminary design review for a satellite deorbit mission using its Elytra spacecraft, part of an $8.4 million combined Deorbit-as-a-Service award split with D-Orbit and Katalyst Space Technologies. Completing the design review, due by year-end, makes Firefly eligible to compete for the follow-on phase covering launch and on-orbit deorbit operations; Elytra draws on avionics, structures and propulsion already flight-proven on Firefly's Alpha rocket and Blue Ghost lunar lander.