Firefly’s Antares 300 (okay, and also Alpha)
Technically, this rocket already exists. But Northrop Grumman’s medium-lift Antares rocket, which debuted in 2013, is currently without an engine, specifically the Russian-built RD-181. Russia is no longer supplying these engines to the U.S. on account of Western sanctions, prompting Northrop to partner with Texas-based Firefly Aerospace. Firefly is contracted to provide the first stage booster, dubbed Antares 300, for the expendable rocket. Seven of the company’s Miranda engines will power the booster, making it more powerful than before. Northrop will continue to provide the Castor 30XL solid rocket motor for the Antares upper stage.
Firefly Alpha, a two-stage rocket designed for delivering small satellites to orbit, failed on its first launch in September 2021 but managed to reach orbit on its second attempt. That said, it was not a complete success, as its payloads fell back to Earth one week later, a result of the rocket not reaching its intended orbit. So this rocket remains on our wish list of future launch vehicles.
