NASA Awards Blue Origin and Firefly $220M Contracts Each
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
NASA picked Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace and other space companies to send robotic landers, rovers and drones to the moon as part of the effort to jumpstart a lunar base before the end of the decade. The U.S. space agency awarded Lunar Outpost and Astrolab contracts worth $220M each for building rovers. The agency also announced that Blue Origin will be tasked with delivering these rovers to the moon's surface using the aerospace firm's uncrewed cargo moon lander, called Mark 1. Each landing and delivery of a rover is worth $234M each for Blue Origin. Carlos Garcia-Galan, a NASA program executive, said Firefly Aerospace's Elytra spacecraft will be transporting the first drones to the moon under the agency's Moonfall program. In afternoon trading following NASA's press conference to announce details of the plans, shares of Firefly are up $9.54, or 19%, to $59.04.
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Analyst Views on FLY
Wall Street analysts forecast FLY stock price to fall
7 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 49.370
Low
27.00
Averages
34.83
High
65.00
Current: 49.370
Low
27.00
Averages
34.83
High
65.00
About FLY
Firefly Aerospace Inc. is a space and defense technology company. The Company provides comprehensive mission solutions to national security, government, and commercial customers. It has designed, developed, and deployed its vehicles and dynamic spacecraft solutions to support critical customer missions across the space domain. It has a differentiated and scalable platform of Launch and Spacecraft Solutions with flight heritage. Within Launch, it has two offerings built on common technologies: Alpha and Eclipse. Alpha is a United States-based orbital rocket in the 1,000 kilograms class to successfully reach orbit, with four launches completed. Eclipse, a reusable and scaled up version of Alpha. Its Spacecraft Solutions include Blue Ghost lander (Blue Ghost) and Elytra offerings, highlight the heritage of common technologies from its launch vehicles. Blue Ghost Lander and Elytra are highly maneuverable spacecraft enabled by high-performance rocket engine technology.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Reaction Expectations: While market reactions to new stock offerings are typically cautious, Firefly Aerospace's strategic positioning and technological advantages may attract investor interest, potentially leading to a positive impact on its stock price.
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See More
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- Use of Proceeds: The funds raised from this public offering will be directed towards advancing the company's R&D projects and operational expansion, particularly in the rocket launch services sector, to enhance market competitiveness and technological innovation.
- Market Reaction Expectations: While market reactions to new stock offerings are typically cautious, Firefly Aerospace's strategic positioning and technological advantages may attract investor interest, potentially leading to a positive impact on its stock price.
- Industry Context: In an increasingly competitive aerospace industry, Firefly Aerospace's fundraising will help it secure a more advantageous position in the small satellite launch market, further driving the company's long-term growth potential.
See More
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- Strategic Partnership: Japanese space companies Astroscale and SKY Perfect JSAT have formed a strategic partnership to develop on-orbit satellite services, with SKY Perfect investing 800 million yen (approximately $5 million) to support Astroscale's growth, although this investment appears minor compared to the total funding round of 30.6 billion yen ($192.2 million).
- Competitive Market Pressure: Astroscale faces intense competition from multiple U.S. companies, including Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman, which have successfully executed commercial on-orbit missions, necessitating Astroscale to accelerate its efforts to remain relevant in the market.
- Financial Challenges: Currently unprofitable, Astroscale is burning through $96 million annually, with analysts projecting that it will not achieve profitability until 2029 and will continue to experience cash burn until 2030, posing significant challenges for its future development.
- Industry Outlook: Despite the uncertain market outlook for Astroscale, the partnership with SKY Perfect may provide essential financial backing, enabling it to secure a foothold in the rapidly evolving on-orbit services market, particularly in satellite lifespan extension and orbital debris removal.
See More
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- Market Dynamics: With the SpaceX IPO approaching, investor enthusiasm for space stocks has surged, with AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab seeing share price increases of 43% and 65% this month, while Tesla also gained 11.5% due to the surrounding excitement.
- Partnership Formation: Astroscale has formed a strategic partnership with SKY Perfect JSAT, which will invest 800 million yen (approximately $5 million); although this investment is small compared to the total funding round of 30.6 billion yen ($192.2 million), it could provide Astroscale with essential support to expand its on-orbit services business.
- Competitive Landscape: Astroscale faces fierce competition from companies like Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace, which have already established a foothold in the on-orbit services market, necessitating that Astroscale accelerates its efforts to avoid being left behind.
- Financial Challenges: Currently unprofitable, Astroscale is burning through $96 million annually, with analysts projecting it won't achieve profitability until 2029 and won't stop burning cash until 2030, raising doubts about whether SKY Perfect's investment will be sufficient to help it survive.
See More
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- Funding Support: On May 22, 2026, Starfighters Space announced a strategic equity investment of $17.5 million aimed at supporting the continued development of the STARLAUNCH platform and broader commercial space initiatives, with funds allocated for infrastructure development and operational expansion, thereby enhancing the company's competitive position in the market.
- Executive Appointments: The company appointed two senior leaders from Blue Origin, Jose Arias as Vice President of Space Operations and Catrina L. Medeiros as Director of STARLAUNCH Operations, which not only enhances the company's execution capabilities but also provides strong management support for the successful implementation of the STARLAUNCH project.
- Market Outlook: With SpaceX planning to go public on June 12, 2026, targeting up to $75 billion in funding, Starfighters Space is well-positioned to capitalize on this influx of capital, accelerating its commercial development and further solidifying its position in the rapidly growing space economy.
- Technical Progress: Recent milestones for the STARLAUNCH platform include a targeted space demonstration flight timeline over the next 18 to 24 months, which is expected to significantly reduce technical risks and boost market confidence through regulatory approvals and program execution.
See More
Starfighters Space Secures $17.5 Million Investment for STARLAUNCH
- Investment Support: On May 22, 2026, Starfighters Space announced a $17.5 million strategic equity investment aimed at advancing the STARLAUNCH platform and broader commercial space development, reflecting strong endorsement from global institutional investors for its long-term strategy.
- Operational Expansion Plans: The funding is earmarked specifically for operational expansion and infrastructure development, with a targeted timeline for space demonstration flights over the next 18 to 24 months, further enhancing the company's competitiveness in the flexible, high-cadence space access market.
- Executive Team Enhancement: On May 7, 2026, the company appointed two senior leaders from Blue Origin, responsible for space operations and STARLAUNCH operations, which boosts the team's expertise and execution capability, thereby increasing market confidence.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: With SpaceX planning a historic IPO, Starfighters Space's performance in the commercial space sector is increasingly under scrutiny, and it is expected to attract more investor attention due to its potential in flexible launch architecture.
See More
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- NASA Contract Approval: Firefly Aerospace recently secured a $75 million subcontract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to support the MoonFall mission, marking a significant advancement in the company's aerospace endeavors and expanding its lunar portfolio.
- Capital Raising Strategy: Firefly priced its public offering at $48 per share for a total of 12 million shares, representing a 3% discount to the last closing price, and plans to use the proceeds to support growth initiatives and recently awarded programs, reflecting confidence in future development.
- Competitor Challenges: The explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket during a hotfire test may create opportunities for rival launch service providers like Firefly, as investors remain optimistic about Firefly's prospects amid delays faced by Blue Origin.
- Retail Trader Sentiment: According to Stocktwits, retail sentiment for Firefly surged by 283% in message volume over the past week, indicating strong investor confidence in its future performance, despite FLY stock declining 18% over the past year.
See More
