Firefly Aerospace Successfully Tests New Miranda Rocket Engine with First Hot Fire

Firefly Aerospace successfully conducted the first hot fire test of their Miranda rocket engine, a major milestone in their goal to meet a mid-2025 launch target for their new rocket. The Miranda engine will be used in the first stage of Northrop Grumman's Antares 330 and Firefly's own Medium Lift Vehicle, capable of delivering up to 10,000 kg of payload to the International Space Station. The MLV will also utilize the Miranda vacuum engine to send up to 16,000 kg to low Earth orbit. Firefly plans to perform a full-duration hot fire test of the Miranda engine next, and is targeting a December launch for Flight 004 of their Alpha rocket.