Firefly Aerospace Explores Launching Alpha Rocket from Japan in 2025

Firefly Aerospace, a US-based launch company, has entered a memorandum of understanding with the Hokkaido Spaceport in Japan to conduct a feasibility study for launching its Alpha rocket from the site. The study aims to determine the practicality of launching the rocket from Hokkaido Spaceport, which could potentially expand Firefly's launch capabilities to serve the satellite industry in Asia and add resiliency for US allies. The launch site has room for two launch complexes, and the company is slated to launch its seventh Alpha rocket in the coming months.

Firefly Aerospace, a US-based launch company, has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hokkaido Spaceport in Japan to conduct a feasibility study for launching its Alpha rocket from the site. The study aims to determine the practicality of launching the rocket from Hokkaido Spaceport, which could potentially expand Firefly's launch capabilities to serve the satellite industry in Asia and add resiliency for US allies.

The MOU, signed on August 18, 2025, involves SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd., the operator of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO), and Firefly Aerospace. SPACE COTAN will define the launch site operation concept, evaluate system requirements, and assess licensing and regulatory requirements to launch Firefly’s Alpha rocket from HOSPO. The feasibility study will map regulatory steps, timelines, and investment for an Alpha pad at the complex, located about 820 km northeast of Tokyo [1].

Hokkaido Spaceport, located in Taiki Town, offers geographical advantages such as an expansive sea to the east and south and a large landmass that allows for rapid expansion of the launch site. The suborbital launch site, Launch Complex 0, is already in operation, and developments are underway on a new orbital launch site, Launch Complex 1. The potential launch "would allow us to serve the larger satellite industry in Asia and add resiliency for U.S. allies with a proven orbital launch vehicle," said Adam Oakes, Firefly's vice president of launch [2].

Firefly's Alpha rocket is equipped to launch more than 1,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and can be launched domestically or internationally through Firefly’s existing launch facilities at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, and Esrange Space Center in Sweden. The company is seen as a challenger to market leader SpaceX, owned by billionaire technologist Elon Musk [3].

The feasibility study will evaluate regulatory requirements, timelines, and investment needs for establishing an Alpha launch pad in Hokkaido. The plan depends on finalizing a U.S.-Japan space technology safeguards agreement (TSA), which remains under negotiation. Japan’s government aims to increase domestic rocket launches to 30 per year by the early 2030s, supporting companies like Space One and Interstellar Technologies [4].

Firefly's Alpha rocket has had four failures in six launches since 2021, including its most recent attempt in April. The company went public earlier this month and raised $868.3 million in its Nasdaq initial public offering (IPO), with an over 50% rally on the opening day lifting its market cap to nearly $10 billion [3].

References:
[1] https://hokkaidospaceport.com/en/news/1929
[2] https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/08/18/firefly-explores-japan-launch-site-for-alpha-rockets/
[3] https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/firefly-conducts-feasibility-study-to-launch-alpha-rocket-from-japan/chsO3NlRdQt
[4] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/18/companies/firefly-aerospace-japan-rocket-launch/