Left: Firefly Aerospace founder Dr Max Polyakov. Right: Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko. Credit: PRNewsfoto/Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

US-based orbital launch vehicle developer Firefly Aerospace has opened a research and development (R&D) centre in Dnipro, Ukraine.

The facility will be used to design and build components of launch vehicles and launch systems.

It will employ more than 150 people and feature a 3D-printer for industrial production of high-quality metal parts.

Firefly is currently developing the Alpha and Beta launch vehicles to provide affordable, convenient and reliable dedicated launch services for small to medium satellites.

Firefly Aerospace founder Dr Max Polyakov said: “We plan to launch the first Firefly Alpha in the third quarter of 2019.

“By 2021, our mass production facilities will support two Alpha launches per month.

“This will enable our customers to purchase dedicated launches, allowing them to go directly to the orbit of their choosing, according to their schedule.”

“This will enable our customers to purchase dedicated launches, allowing them to go directly to the orbit of their choosing, according to their schedule.”

Firefly’s Alpha and Beta vehicles will be designed to offer low Earth orbit (LEO) launch solutions for up to 1t and 4t payloads, respectively.

They will provide frequent launch services to commercial and exploration missions to the moon and other orbital positions.

Firefly Aerospace International Business Development director John Isella said: “Firefly expects to be the first new space company to obtain a US Government Technical Assistance Agreement facilitating design collaboration between the US and Ukraine.

“This collaboration, once approved, will leverage the knowledge base in Dnipro and strengthen our business case.

“Firefly US is looking forward to working with Firefly Ukraine in compliance with all US export control requirements.”