SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.03
European Space Agency logo European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight vs Firefly Aerospace Designs and operates small- and medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space maneuvering vehicles for defense, civil, and commercial space missions. Firefly Aerospace logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
European Space Agency Firefly Aerospace
Founded 1975 2014
Headquarters Paris, France 2203 Scottsdale Dr. Leander, TX 78641
Type government public
Status operating operating
Employees 3,739 800
Total funding
Latest round
Sectors Planetary Exploration, Earth Observation & Remote Sensing, Launch Services, Navigation & Positioning, Satellite Communications Launch Services, Lunar Services, Space Transportation & Logistics
Products listed 8 6
Federal contracts
Launches 11 (36%)
Leaders listed Josef Aschbacher, Dietmar Pilz, Toni Tolker-Nielsen Jason Kim, Darren Ma, Shea Ferring
News mentions 14 22
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do European Space Agency and Firefly Aerospace compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services. European Space Agency was founded in 1975 and Firefly Aerospace in 2014.

Which is larger, European Space Agency or Firefly Aerospace?

European Space Agency reports the larger workforce, with 3,739 employees versus 800.

Which has more launches, European Space Agency or Firefly Aerospace?

Firefly Aerospace leads with 11 tracked launches (36% success rate).

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.