Private aerospace company Firefly Aerospace has reached a launch services agreement with mission management and separation systems provider Exolaunch.

The agreement will provide multiple rideshare and dedicated missions aboard Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle next year.

Firefly will use Exolaunch’s payload integration expertise and flight-proven launch hardware, including CarboNIX shock-free microsatellite separation systems, EXOpod CubeSat deployers, EXObox sequencers and EXOport multi-satellite adapters.

Through this strategic collaboration, the company plans to accelerate the frequency of Alpha flights.

Firefly Aerospace CEO Dr Tom Markusic said: “This agreement between Firefly and Exolaunch brings together two complementary partners focused on providing affordable space access to a growing number of government, commercial, scientific and academic missions.

“Exolaunch is one of the leading payload aggregators and integration providers and will work closely with our Firefly team in filling capacity aboard Alpha launch vehicles and meeting the unprecedented demand for space missions over the years ahead.”

Firefly has already conducted an acceptance test of the Flight 1 Alpha vehicle. It is undergoing integration at the company’s Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) launch site.

The rocket will undergo static fire before readying for its maiden launch.

Based in Germany, Exolaunch has previously launched 140 small satellites for its customers.

Last month, the company launched 30 commercial, space agency, and university satellites for its customers from Europe and the US.

Exolaunch launch services VP Jeanne Medvedeva said: “Exolaunch and Firefly Aerospace share a common goal of opening space to exciting new levels of exploration and economic opportunities, and we look forward to contributing to the success of the Alpha launch vehicle in its quest to affordably deliver spacecraft into orbit.”