SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04
Firefly Aerospace logo 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 vs Orbex Developed the Prime micro-launch vehicle for dedicated small satellite missions to LEO, using bio-propane fuel and 3D-printed engines Orbex logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
Firefly Aerospace Orbex
Founded 2014 2015
Headquarters Texas Forres, United Kingdom
Type public private
Status operating closed
Employees 800 178
Total funding $163.1M
Latest round Series D
Sectors Launch Services, Lunar Services, Space Transportation & Logistics Launch Services, Spaceports & Range Services
Products listed 6 3
Federal contracts
Launches 11 (36%) 1 (0%)
Leaders listed Jason Kim, Darren Ma, Shea Ferring Phil Chambers, Andy Bradford, Charles Platts
News mentions 22 0
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do Firefly Aerospace and Orbex compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services. Firefly Aerospace was founded in 2014 and Orbex in 2015.

Which is larger, Firefly Aerospace or Orbex?

Firefly Aerospace reports the larger workforce, with 800 employees versus 178.

Which has more launches, Firefly Aerospace or Orbex?

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.