New Medium Launch Vehicle Taking Flight in 2025
Our medium launch vehicle (MLV) will fill a void in the medium-lift market by providing a 100% US-made solution that’s more responsive to national security, civil, and commercial space needs. With the first flight scheduled for 2025, MLV will be capable of launching 16,000 kg to lower Earth orbit with a 5-meter class payload fairing that can be customized based on customer needs. The vehicle will deliver payloads at a comparable cost per kilogram to existing reusable rockets while enabling direct deliveries to customers’ preferred orbits.
Overview
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Architecture
2 stages
Optional 3rd stage
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Overall Length
55.7 m
183.7 ft
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Payload Fairing
5-meter class
Propulsion
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Propellant
LOX / RP–1
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PROPELLANT FEED
Turbopump
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COMBUSTION
Tap-off cycle
Stage 1
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ENGINE
7x Miranda
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THRUST (VAC)
7,161 kN
1,609,857 lbf
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ISP (VAC)
305 sec
Stage 2
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ENGINE
1x Miranda Vacuum
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THRUST (VAC)
890 kN
200,000 lbf
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ISP (VAC)
328 sec
Building on the Success of Antares and Alpha
MLV will utilize the Firefly-manufactured Antares 330 first stage that’s powered by seven Firefly Miranda engines and a new liquid upper stage incorporating one Miranda derived vacuum engine. The vehicle will utilize technologies from Firefly’s flight-proven Alpha vehicle, such as all carbon composite structures and tap-off cycle engines, and will evolve into a reusable vehicle.
Launching from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, MLV is also designed to be compatible with other launch ranges, including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), California.
Let’s Fly
Get in touch to learn more about launching on MLV.