First launch of Ukrainian-American rocket postponed until fall due to pandemic

According to Robb Kulin, Firefly's chief operating officer, the company has faced a great number of challenges over the last few months.

"The pandemic added to the normal pressures Firefly was expecting in 2020, including certifying a new rocket in Briggs, Texas; certifying Firefly's first launch facility at Vandenberg; receiving the needed launch certificates allowing the rocket to fly; and the normal work with suppliers and contractors," the report reads.

Therefore, Firefly Aerospace decided to move the launch of the rocket from the first quarter of 2020 to late October or early November this year.

Firefly Aerospace is a private aerospace company with offices in Austin (Texas, the United States) and the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The engine test and manufacturing facility is located in Texas, while Ukrainian employees of the company at a research and development (R&D) center in Dnipro are developing part of the equipment.

In 2017, Firefly Aerospace, which faced financial difficulties, was bought out by Ukrainian businessman Max Polyakov, founder of Noosphere Ventures and EOS Data Analytics. The work on the development of the Alpha has resumed since then.

The company plans to launch two such rockets per month from 2021. It is also planning to develop a heavier rocket, the Beta, which is likely to consist of three Alpha rockets combined together.

The Alpha rocket is designed to bring a 1,000 kg payload to a low Earth orbit.