Firefly Aerospace Receives $13 Million NASA JPL Subcontract to Build Aeroshell for SkyFall Mars Mission

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Firefly to leverage proven composite manufacturing expertise from its lunar landers and rockets to enable next generation of Mars exploration CEDAR PARK, Texas, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY), a market leading space and defense technology company, today announced a $13 million subcontract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to manufacture, test, and deliver the aeroshell for NASA's SkyFall mission to Mars, targeted for launch in late 2028. The SkyFall mission, managed by JPL, will deploy three heritage Mars helicopters to perform science and demonstrate airborne subsurface mapping and resource prospecting, paving the way for American astronauts on Mars. "NASA's SkyFall is Firefly's first award coming out our new Gloworks innovation lab, which embodies our commitment to developing disruptive space technologies without disrupting our existing production lines," said Shea Ferring, Chief Technology Officer at Firefly Aerospace. "Our deep expertise in building large composite structures for both spacecraft and rockets gives us a unique advantage to enable critical planetary missions like SkyFall. We're further innovating these core technologies through Gloworks to push the boundaries of what's possible and open new frontiers across our solar system." The SkyFall aeroshell, comprising both the backshell and heatshield, will be developed within Firefly's new Gloworks innovation lab and manufactured at the company's Rocket Ranch in Briggs, Texas. Firefly will utilize advanced carbon composite technologies from its proven Blue Ghost lunar landers, Elytra orbiters, and Alpha and Eclipse launch vehicles to rapidly produce high-strength, lightweight structures. Following manufacturing, Firefly will complete rigorous structural qualification and flight acceptance testing at its Rocket Ranch to ensure the SkyFall aeroshell meets all mission requirements for the harsh environments encountered during launch, cruise, and Mars entry, descent, and landing. The company will then deliver the aeroshell to JPL for additional environmental testing at JPL's facilities prior to integration with JPL's SkyFall helicopters and deployment system. Built on the success of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the SkyFall helicopters will be deployed using an innovative mid-air release technique known as the "SkyFall Maneuver." This technique utilizes an entry capsule to release the three helicopters during descent, eliminating the need for a landing platform. The helicopters will then fly to the surface and capture high-resolution surface imagery and subsurface radar data. This data will be used to obtain a better understanding of the terrain and natural forces that shaped the landing site and scout for water ice.

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