Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based space transportation company, selected Wallops Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for its new launch site.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday that Firefly will establish a launch site at Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport for its two-stage orbital Alpha rocket. The existing pad will be configured to launch Alpha as early as 2025.
The Alpha rocket provides launch services for commercial, civil and national security missions. It is capable of launching more than 1,000 kilograms to low-Earth orbit with just 24-hour notice.
Firefly also plans to operate a launch control center, horizontal integration facility and administrative office on the Eastern Shore.
Youngkin said in a news release that he looks forward to Firefly’s success in Virginia as they work together to bolster the nation’s aerospace industry.
“The commonwealth plays a critical role in supporting national security as the need to maintain our nation’s leadership in space becomes increasingly evident,” he said.
The spaceport has three launch pads, with a fourth under construction.
