What began in 2014 as a bold move from the aerospace corridors of California to the unassuming city of Cedar Park, Texas, has become one of the great success stories of American commercial spaceflight. Firefly Aerospace, now a moon-landing, orbital-launching, IPO-filing rocket company, has grown from startup roots into a key player in the new space economy—and Cedar Park has been part of the ride from day one.

The Move That Changed Everything

The story begins with Firefly Space Systems, founded in early 2014 in Hawthorne, California. But that same year, visionary CEO Tom Markusic made a pivotal decision: relocate the company’s operations to Cedar Park. By November 2014, Firefly had officially moved its headquarters and testing infrastructure to the Central Texas region, acquiring over 200 acres near Briggs for engine testing and future expansion.

It was more than a change of zip code—it was a declaration. Cedar Park wasn’t just a backdrop; it became Firefly’s launchpad—literally and figuratively.

Reaching Orbit—and the Moon

Firefly made headlines in 2023 when its Alpha rocket achieved its first successful orbital launch—a key milestone that placed the company firmly in the small-satellite market.

But the moment that truly etched Firefly into history came in March 2025, when its Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully touched down on the Moon. Not only was it the first fully successful commercial lunar landing—it completed all 17 NASA mission objectives, signaling that Firefly wasn’t just another launcher, but a trusted deep-space delivery provider.

And where was that lander built, tested, and supported? Cedar Park, Texas.

Fueling Ambition: Now Filing for IPO

This month, Firefly announced it is going public, filing its IPO prospectus with the SEC. The company plans to list on the NASDAQ under the ticker FLY, with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo as underwriters.

Their Q1 2025 revenues topped $55 million, and they boast a backlog of $1.1 billion, nearly double the prior year. With upcoming missions, new launch systems like Elytra and Eclipse, and continued growth in spacecraft services, Firefly is poised for lift off—again.

Cedar Park: A City on the Edge of the Future

From testing rocket engines in Hill Country fields to guiding a lunar lander from Central Texas control rooms, Cedar Park has been foundational to Firefly’s growth. The city offered more than land and labor—it offered vision, support, and a collaborative business environment that allowed a cutting-edge company to thrive.

Now, with Firefly set to go public and expand its mission portfolio, Cedar Park’s early bet is paying off. It has become a nationally recognized aerospace hub, and Firefly’s success has brought high-tech jobs, investment, and global visibility to the region.

A Shared Ascent

Firefly Aerospace’s journey mirrors Cedar Park’s own rise—from a growing Texas suburb to a cornerstone of the commercial space industry. Together, they’ve proven that the future of American spaceflight doesn’t just belong to coastal cities or massive corporations. Sometimes, it begins on a quiet patch of land in Texas—and ends with footprints on the Moon.