A Brevard County company is using retired F-104 Starfighter jets to launch small satellites into space, offering a low-cost alternative to traditional rocket launches. StarFighter Space, based in Cocoa, has been testing the approach since 2023, leveraging the speed and runway capabilities of the jets to carry payloads into orbit. CEO Tim Franta, who grew up eight miles from the Kennedy Space Center, says the method aims to deliver small scientific experiments to space for less than $1 million per mission. "Think of us not even as Uber, but Uber Eats," Franta said. "We’re delivering something very small to a specific spot and trying to do it inexpensively."
The F-104 Starfighters, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.02, are being modified to carry payloads under their fuselages. The jets are launched from the same runway at Kennedy Space Center that the space shuttle used, a 15,000-foot strip that provides enough distance for the aircraft to reach the necessary velocity. The company has secured a hangar at the spaceport, built over 20 years ago by a former Florida Space Authority employee, to house its operations. "It’s very full circle," Franta said.
StarFighter Space went public in December 2025, seeking investors to fund its first orbital launches. The company has already conducted test flights with dummy payloads, but scaling the technology requires overcoming technical and financial hurdles. "If it’s just the rocket, that’d be the easy part," Franta said. "You have to get funding and make the business case." The company is targeting its first operational launch by 2027, though it has yet to secure a major contract.
The approach has drawn attention from aerospace analysts, who say the method could offer a niche solution for deploying microsatellites. However, critics question the scalability and safety of using military jets for commercial purposes. The company has not yet disclosed how many satellites it plans to launch annually or which organizations have expressed interest in its services. Franta declined to comment on specific partnerships but emphasized the need for "proven reliability" to attract customers. "We’re not trying to replace SpaceX or Blue Origin," he said. "We’re trying to fill a gap in the market."