Launch provider Firefly Aerospace will carry three educational payloads to space aboard its Alpha rocket as early as 2025. As part of its DREAM (Dedicated Research Education Accelerator Mission) programme, Firefly is donating excess Alpha capacity to fly CubeSats from the University of Illinois, Auburn University, and the Aerospace and Innovation Academy in Florida.

“Firefly is dedicated to making space attainable for everyone, including our future workforce,” said Shea Ferring, Chief Technology Officer at Firefly Aerospace. “By providing a free ride on Alpha, we help kickstart satellite programs and robotics clubs that have a monumental impact on students’ career trajectories and our industry at large. Ultimately, our goal is to inspire students, allow them to gain hands-on experience, and help them realize that becoming a ‘rocket scientist’ is achievable with the right mix of grit, creativity, and technical fundamentals.”

DREAM was established in 2019 to encourage students to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). DREAM eliminates the cost of entry for launch, allowing educational institutions to focus on developing and operating a small satellite program and training the next generation of aerospace engineers. The first round of DREAM payloads flew on Firefly’s Alpha FLTA001 rocket in 2021.
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