Firefly is studying development of an orbit transfer vehicle, using solar electric propulsion, for raising the orbits of satellites. Several small vehicle launch companies prepared for their first flights within two years with three ready for a launch during the next year . Virgin Orbit was developing the concept for a test flight early next year , Vector was working on a suborbital launch of its Vector - R rocket and Firefly Aerospace planned to launch its prototype by this time next year . The firms were catching up with Rocket Lab which launched its Electron rocket commercially for the first time on 1 November . The firms were also planning to become involved with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) Launch Challenge .
Several small vehicle launch companies prepared for their first flights within two years with three ready for a launch during the next year . Virgin Orbit was developing the concept for a test flight early next year , Vector was working on a suborbital launch of its Vector - R rocket and Firefly Aerospace planned to launch its prototype by this time next year . The firms were catching up with Rocket Lab which launched its Electron rocket commercially for the first time on 1 November . The firms were also planning to become involved with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) Launch Challenge .