Firefly Aerospace acquires Space-ng to boost AI-powered lunar navigation

Firefly Aerospace has acquired Space-ng, a provider of AI-powered vision navigation and autonomous guidance systems. The move strengthens Firefly’s capabilities in real-time navigation and hazard avoidance for lunar missions. This is the company’s second major software purchase in the past year. Space-ng’s technology has already supported Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1. Its vision-navigation software enabled autonomous hazard detection and terrain avoidance during the lunar descent.

The same systems will guide precise landings for Blue Ghost Missions 2, 3, and 4 on the Moon’s surface. Space-ng’s optical navigation and AI hardware will also assist NASA’s MoonFall mission at the lunar south pole.

Beyond lunar landings, Space-ng’s cameras and AI hardware will track objects in orbit as part of the Sinequone Project. Firefly plans to offer these capabilities to government and commercial customers, expanding its market reach.

Space-ng will be fully integrated into Firefly. Cofounder and CEO Ethan Rublee will lead Firefly’s spacecraft software suite as chief engineer of software. The acquisition follows Firefly’s purchase of SciTec in October 2025. The deal gives Firefly in-house control of critical navigation and AI hardware. These tools will support future lunar and orbital missions. The company expects the acquisition to create new revenue streams and broaden its mission capabilities.