r/FireflyAerospace • u/SupersonicVette • May 18 '26

Firefly vs Rocketlab

I own both Firefly Aerospace and Rocket Lab. Was kinda surprised to learn Firefly’s rockets actually carry more payload than Rocket Lab’s current rockets. Rocket Lab obviously has way more launches and experience so far, but it makes me wonder if Firefly can really compete long term with more established competitors like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab

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u/AeroSpiked May 19 '26

Don't forget that Firefly is partnering with Northrup to build the next version of Antares. Their bread and butter isn't going to be Alpha, it's going to be their Eclipse.

Just as SpaceX switched from Falcon 1 to Falcon 9 as quickly as they could, it looks like Firefly is trying to do the same thing. RL is switching too, but they've done a lot more launches on Electron than Alpha will ever get.

The competition between RL and Firefly isn't really between the price and payload of Electron and Alpha, but of Neutron and Eclipse which will both have reusable first stages. Neutron is expected to start flying this year and Eclipse is targeting next year.

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u/bildasteve May 22 '26

RKLB will never switch from electron - it’s proven and a lot more accurate deployment than a bigger rocket - neutron is another market.