Lockheed Martin’s new mid-size satellite platform closer to launchThe LM 400 is now scheduled to launch in mid 2025 on a Firefly Alpha rocket for a demonstration missionNovember 20, 2024Defense giant Lockheed Martin announced Nov. 19 that its new mid-size satellite platform will make its orbital debut next year aboard a Firefly Aerospace rocket.The LM 400 satellite bus — roughly the size of a household refrigerator — represents Lockheed’s bid to capture a sweet spot in the satellite market: missions requiring more power and payload capacity than small satellites can provide, but not demanding the complexity of traditional large satellites.[...]The planned demonstration mission in low Earth orbit, carrying a communications payload, comes after a three-year development period marked by supply chain disruptions that delayed the platform’s original 2023 launch target. The program also faced a setback when its initial launch provider, ABL Space, struggled to get its launch vehicle operational, prompting Lockheed to pivot to Firefly’s Alpha rocket under a new multi-launch agreement.[...]
DENVER, Colo., November 21, 2024 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today announced continued investment in its technology demonstrations with the upcoming launch of the LM 400, a new mid-sized, common, multi-mission space vehicle. It has completed testing and is currently preparing to embark on its journey on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket in the first half of 2025.“The LM 400 is Lockheed Martin’s most capable space vehicle, and is able to serve any mission in any orbit,” said Jeff Schrader, vice president, strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Space. “This mid-sized, common bus is a game changer, because it can support any type of customer, including military, civil and commercial users – and can be customized to each individual mission.”The LM 400 was digitally designed and developed for:Any Mission: LM 400 is a common satellite bus design that provides significant customer cost savings. Missions could include remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar. Any Orbit: LM 400 was designed with greater propulsion and better low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) operability compared to others in its class. Any Launch Configuration: LM 400 is compatible with a wide range of launch vehicles as a single, ride-share or multi-launch system.Mission Flexibility: LM 400 includes SmartSat™, the company’s software-defined architecture that gives customers even greater mission flexibility and the ability to perform on-board data processing.Support to CJADC2: LM 400 can conform to a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), and interoperate with other platforms across the military services to support the Department of Defense’s vision for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) operations.This mission will join Lockheed Martin’s growing self-funded technology demonstration portfolio, including the Electronically Steerable Antenna and Pony Express 2. These launches are centered on innovation and designed to deliver proven capabilities with greater speed and agility, which means customers gain access to advanced manufacturing and digital engineering that has already been tested on-orbit to address emerging threats.
Alpha FLTA006 is the second mission Firefly is launching for Lockheed Martin and the first of Firefly’s new multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin that includes up to 25 missions over the next five years. This mission will launch Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 tech demo to prove out the risk-reduction and pathfinding efforts the company has done for its mid-sized, multi-mission satellite bus. As a dedicated commercial launch to low Earth orbit, FLTA006 will further prove Alpha’s robust performance to take customers directly to their preferred orbits. With each fight, the Firefly team continues to improve its rapid launch operations and further validate Alpha’s robust performance as the only operational 1 metric ton rocket.
Quote from: PM3 on 01/26/2025 12:23 pmQuote from: the_big_boot on 01/25/2025 10:30 pmAccording to firefly’s current CEO then next alpha launch will be LM400 (not Tacsat) net Q1 2025https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GKK9ksun6Jib6zQOiZOkT?si=aamnty-vTaG_7eScJtkW9A&t=797&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A2sil2NBzcsgkPKQjgKIqjMIsn't that the same? LM400 is a new satellite bus by Lockheed Martin, and TacSat a Lockheed Martin tech demo mission.No, Tacsat doesn’t use the LM400 busQuoteTacSat, a compact spacecraft about the size of a mini-fridge, is built on a Terran Orbital Zuma bus
Quote from: the_big_boot on 01/25/2025 10:30 pmAccording to firefly’s current CEO then next alpha launch will be LM400 (not Tacsat) net Q1 2025https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GKK9ksun6Jib6zQOiZOkT?si=aamnty-vTaG_7eScJtkW9A&t=797&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A2sil2NBzcsgkPKQjgKIqjMIsn't that the same? LM400 is a new satellite bus by Lockheed Martin, and TacSat a Lockheed Martin tech demo mission.
According to firefly’s current CEO then next alpha launch will be LM400 (not Tacsat) net Q1 2025https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GKK9ksun6Jib6zQOiZOkT?si=aamnty-vTaG_7eScJtkW9A&t=797&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A2sil2NBzcsgkPKQjgKIqjM
TacSat, a compact spacecraft about the size of a mini-fridge, is built on a Terran Orbital Zuma bus
This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Fireflys Alpha launch mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base SLC-2 ...Operation Start Date: 03/03/2025
Alpha is on the pad as we gear up for #FLTA006 in the coming weeks! With Stage 1 and 2 fully integrated, our team out at @SLDelta30 is working towards a static fire ahead of launching Message in a Booster with @LockheedMartin’s LM 400 satellite. Stay tuned for more updates.https://fireflyspace.com/missions/alpha-flta006/
NASA to launch Earth science smallsat mission on Firefly AlphaMarch 4, 2025[...]Oakes said at the same event that Firefly was planning five Alpha launches in 2025, all from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the site of all the company’s Alpha launches to date. The first of those, carrying a Lockheed Martin LM400 satellite, is expected to take place in about two weeks, Kim said during an interview March 2 after the successful landing of the company’s Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander.[...]
https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1674396257861660672QuoteFirefly Aerospace @Firefly_SpaceProud to share another big win today! Our Alpha vehicle will be launching an upcoming mission for @LockheedMartin. Get the scoop here and stay tuned for more details in the coming months:https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-signs-agreement-with-lockheed-martin-for-alpha-launch-services/https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-signs-agreement-with-lockheed-martin-for-alpha-launch-services/QuoteCedar Park, Texas, June 29, 2023 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it signed a launch agreement with Lockheed Martin to support a technology demonstration mission that will launch aboard Firefly’s Alpha vehicle.“Firefly’s flight-proven hardware and rapid launch capabilities are well-aligned with Lockheed Martin’s mission needs, and we’re proud to serve as one of their launch providers,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “We have the infrastructure, technologies, systems, and a dedicated team in place to provide on-demand launch services for both government and commercial customers.”
Firefly Aerospace @Firefly_SpaceProud to share another big win today! Our Alpha vehicle will be launching an upcoming mission for @LockheedMartin. Get the scoop here and stay tuned for more details in the coming months:https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-signs-agreement-with-lockheed-martin-for-alpha-launch-services/
Cedar Park, Texas, June 29, 2023 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it signed a launch agreement with Lockheed Martin to support a technology demonstration mission that will launch aboard Firefly’s Alpha vehicle.“Firefly’s flight-proven hardware and rapid launch capabilities are well-aligned with Lockheed Martin’s mission needs, and we’re proud to serve as one of their launch providers,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “We have the infrastructure, technologies, systems, and a dedicated team in place to provide on-demand launch services for both government and commercial customers.”
SN Firefly to continue responsive launch operations for future Alpha missions, 2 Feb 2024, Jeff FoustQuoteAlexander said the company is planning four Alpha launches this year [2024], the same figure the company offered before the December launch mishap. “We don’t think that’s going to slow us down.”
Alexander said the company is planning four Alpha launches this year [2024], the same figure the company offered before the December launch mishap. “We don’t think that’s going to slow us down.”
https://twitter.com/firefly_space/status/1798342399057355186QuoteBig news ahead for the Firefly team. We're proud to continue our partnership with @LockheedMartin, launching 25 missions on our Alpha rocket through 2029. Under the new agreement, the next Lockheed Martin mission will fly on Alpha FLTA006 later this year.https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-announces-multi-launch-agreement-with-lockheed-martin-for-25-alpha-launches/QuoteJune 5, 2024Firefly Aerospace Announces Multi-Launch Agreement with Lockheed Martin for 25 Alpha LaunchesCedar Park, Texas, June 5, 2024 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it signed a multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin for 25 launches on Firefly’s Alpha rocket through 2029. This agreement commits Lockheed Martin to 15 launch reservations and 10 optional launches.“Firefly is honored to continue this partnership with Lockheed Martin and appreciates their confidence in our rapid launch services to support their critical missions for years to come,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “The Firefly team has scaled up Alpha production and testing and significantly streamlined our launch operations to fly Alpha more frequently and responsively. This allows us to continue delivering the one metric ton rocket the industry is demanding.”Under the agreement, Alpha will launch Lockheed Martin spacecraft into low-Earth orbit from Firefly’s facilities on the west and east coast. The first mission will launch on Alpha flight 6 (FLTA006) from Firefly’s SLC-2 launch site at the Vandenberg Space Force Base later this year. The mission will be conducted as another responsive space operation that includes transporting the payload fairing to the launch pad, mating it to Firefly’s Alpha rocket, and completing final launch operations within hours of the scheduled liftoff.“Our customers have told us they need rapid advancement of new mission capabilities,” said Bob Behnken, Director, Ignite Technology Acceleration at Lockheed Martin Space. “This agreement with Firefly further diversifies our access to space, allowing us to continue quickly flight demonstrating the cutting-edge technology we are developing for them, as well as enabling our continued exploration of tactical and responsive space solutions.”Built with lightweight carbon composites and patented propulsion technologies, Firefly’s Alpha rocket provides low-cost launch services for satellites up to 1,030 kg and supports the growing demand for responsive space missions when and where customers need to fly.
Big news ahead for the Firefly team. We're proud to continue our partnership with @LockheedMartin, launching 25 missions on our Alpha rocket through 2029. Under the new agreement, the next Lockheed Martin mission will fly on Alpha FLTA006 later this year.
June 5, 2024Firefly Aerospace Announces Multi-Launch Agreement with Lockheed Martin for 25 Alpha LaunchesCedar Park, Texas, June 5, 2024 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it signed a multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin for 25 launches on Firefly’s Alpha rocket through 2029. This agreement commits Lockheed Martin to 15 launch reservations and 10 optional launches.“Firefly is honored to continue this partnership with Lockheed Martin and appreciates their confidence in our rapid launch services to support their critical missions for years to come,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “The Firefly team has scaled up Alpha production and testing and significantly streamlined our launch operations to fly Alpha more frequently and responsively. This allows us to continue delivering the one metric ton rocket the industry is demanding.”Under the agreement, Alpha will launch Lockheed Martin spacecraft into low-Earth orbit from Firefly’s facilities on the west and east coast. The first mission will launch on Alpha flight 6 (FLTA006) from Firefly’s SLC-2 launch site at the Vandenberg Space Force Base later this year. The mission will be conducted as another responsive space operation that includes transporting the payload fairing to the launch pad, mating it to Firefly’s Alpha rocket, and completing final launch operations within hours of the scheduled liftoff.“Our customers have told us they need rapid advancement of new mission capabilities,” said Bob Behnken, Director, Ignite Technology Acceleration at Lockheed Martin Space. “This agreement with Firefly further diversifies our access to space, allowing us to continue quickly flight demonstrating the cutting-edge technology we are developing for them, as well as enabling our continued exploration of tactical and responsive space solutions.”Built with lightweight carbon composites and patented propulsion technologies, Firefly’s Alpha rocket provides low-cost launch services for satellites up to 1,030 kg and supports the growing demand for responsive space missions when and where customers need to fly.
Quote from: PM3 on 07/04/2024 07:26 amQuote from: Salo on 07/04/2024 12:16 amNET October 15 - Elytra Mission 1: NRO-X: FANTM Ride, Undisclosed US Government primary payloads, commercial rideshare payloads - Firefly Alpha (FLTA006) - Vandenberg SLC-2WSkyrocket.de also lists Elytra M1 (FANTM-RiDE) as the next Firefly launch:https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/firefly.htmMore on Elytra M1:NRO to conduct responsive space mission with Firefly and XtentiIs this NRO mission executed by Lockheed Martin? Or will it be on a later launch, not FLTA006?QuoteFirefly Alpha flights 6 and 7 are coming up soon. Flight 6 is a commercial mission for Lockheed Martin, and Flight 7 is the first Elytra flight for the NRO. Elytra is a kind of space tug.Source : https://twitter.com/Bubbinski/status/1808730256536461451
Quote from: Salo on 07/04/2024 12:16 amNET October 15 - Elytra Mission 1: NRO-X: FANTM Ride, Undisclosed US Government primary payloads, commercial rideshare payloads - Firefly Alpha (FLTA006) - Vandenberg SLC-2WSkyrocket.de also lists Elytra M1 (FANTM-RiDE) as the next Firefly launch:https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/firefly.htmMore on Elytra M1:NRO to conduct responsive space mission with Firefly and XtentiIs this NRO mission executed by Lockheed Martin? Or will it be on a later launch, not FLTA006?
NET October 15 - Elytra Mission 1: NRO-X: FANTM Ride, Undisclosed US Government primary payloads, commercial rideshare payloads - Firefly Alpha (FLTA006) - Vandenberg SLC-2W
Firefly Alpha flights 6 and 7 are coming up soon. Flight 6 is a commercial mission for Lockheed Martin, and Flight 7 is the first Elytra flight for the NRO. Elytra is a kind of space tug.
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7575QuoteLockheed Martin Demo 1Launch TimeNET 3rd Quarter, 2024
Lockheed Martin Demo 1Launch TimeNET 3rd Quarter, 2024
NET October [1]1545-EX-ST-2024QuoteLaunch vehicle communication for Flight 6 of Fireflys Alpha rocket.
Launch vehicle communication for Flight 6 of Fireflys Alpha rocket.
Originally, I thought that the Flight 6 date was relatively constrained by going before Flight 7, both in Q4 2024.Cross-posts:Quote from: OceanCat on 05/01/2024 05:59 amSAT-LOA-20240315-00057 Update Letter 4.29.2024QuoteThe targeted launch date of the Elytra-1 mission is now October 15, 2024.Quote from: gongora on 08/16/2024 02:41 amNET October [1]1545-EX-ST-2024QuoteLaunch vehicle communication for Flight 6 of Fireflys Alpha rocket.But later:Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 10/11/2024 02:33 amFirefly's website indicates that [Flight 7] has slipped to 2025:https://fireflyspace.com/missions/elytra-mission-1/Now October is over. We'll see when the Space Force decides to give the go-ahead.
SAT-LOA-20240315-00057 Update Letter 4.29.2024QuoteThe targeted launch date of the Elytra-1 mission is now October 15, 2024.
The targeted launch date of the Elytra-1 mission is now October 15, 2024.
Firefly's website indicates that [Flight 7] has slipped to 2025:https://fireflyspace.com/missions/elytra-mission-1/
Delayed to early-2025:QuoteFirefly Raises $175M Series D, Aims For 2025 LaunchNovember 13, 2024[...]The next Alpha rocket will launch sometime early in 2025, Kim said, on a mission for Lockheed Martin, originally expected before year-end. It’s not clear what’s behind the hold-up, but Kim said, “We want to make sure that they have 100% success on their launch.”[...]
Firefly Raises $175M Series D, Aims For 2025 LaunchNovember 13, 2024[...]The next Alpha rocket will launch sometime early in 2025, Kim said, on a mission for Lockheed Martin, originally expected before year-end. It’s not clear what’s behind the hold-up, but Kim said, “We want to make sure that they have 100% success on their launch.”[...]
Lockheed Martin's LM 400 Tech Demo to Prove Out Design and Risk Reduction Efforts on OrbitMarch 5, 2025 The latest self-funded technology demonstration from Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is ready to launch no earlier than March 15.In the weeks ahead, the LM 400 technology demonstration is planned to launch on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket, which successfully passed its static fire test today. The technology demonstration arrived in California on March 1, and is now undergoing pre-launch payload processing at Astrotech Space Operations.The satellite was specifically designed to showcase the investment in risk-reduction efforts and pathfinding Lockheed Martin has done for its mid-sized, LM 400 multi-mission satellite bus, and to demonstrate the spacecraft's operational capabilities on orbit for customers.This launch will also be providing a valuable training opportunity for the U.S. Space Force's Space Safari Responsive Space program and the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) construct."As the need for greater resiliency and proliferated architectures grow, we've made a critical investment in this LM 400 technology demonstration to design and illustrate timely and relevant capabilities on-orbit for our customers," explained Jeff Schrader, vice president of Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin Space. "We look forward to our ride with Firefly, and ultimately enhancing the technical and manufacturing readiness of the multi-orbit, multi-mission LM 400 platform."As a platform, Lockheed Martin's LM 400 is the company's most flexible satellite bus, capable of carrying out military, commercial or civil customers' missions. It can be customized to host a variety of missions and high-power payloads – including remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar – and operates in any orbit. The LM 400 is already under contract.
One step closer to Alpha #FLTA006! Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 is now integrated on Alpha’s payload adaptor. Up next, we’ll encapsulate the payload in our fairing, transport it to the pad, and mate to Alpha. Stay tuned for more as we get ready to launch on Saturday, March 15th at 8:25am CST!
120723Z MAR 25NAVAREA XII 147/25(18,21).EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.CALIFORNIA.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 151325Z TO 151418Z MAR, ALTERNATE 161329Z TO 161422Z MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 35-06.00N 120-42.00W, 35-06.00N 120-36.00W, 34-11.00N 119-39.00W, 33-52.00N 119-39.00W, 33-52.00N 120-32.00W, 31-45.00N 121-13.00W, 31-45.00N 121-17.00W, 33-09.00N 121-17.00W. B. 26-10.00N 119-57.00W, 25-07.00N 119-57.00W, 24-42.00N 120-33.00W, 24-42.00N 120-35.00W, 25-12.00N 121-12.00W, 26-10.00N 121-12.00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 161522Z MAR 25.//
130406Z MAR 25NAVAREA XII 148/25(18,21).EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.CALIFORNIA.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 151255Z TO 151508Z MAR, ALTERNATE 161255Z TO 161508Z MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 35-06.00N 120-42.00W, 35-06.00N 120-36.00W, 34-11.00N 119-39.00W, 33-52.00N 119-39.00W, 33-52.00N 120-32.00W, 31-45.00N 121-13.00W, 31-45.00N 121-17.00W, 33-09.00N 121-17.00W. B. 26-10.00N 119-57.00W, 25-07.00N 119-57.00W, 24-42.00N 120-33.00W, 24-42.00N 120-35.00W, 25-12.00N 121-12.00W, 26-10.00N 121-12.00W.2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 147/25.3. CANCEL THIS MSG 161608Z MAR 25.//
T-minus 2 days until this Message in a Booster takes flight! Alpha #FLTA006 payload encapsulation is now complete for Lockheed Martin’s LM 400. Up next, the team will transport the fairing to the pad and mate it to Alpha. We’ll share a recap of these operations during our livestream with NASASpaceflight LLC starting at T-30 min to liftoff.
Primary Launch Day 26 MAR 2025 1337Z-1517Z Backup Launch Day 27 MAR 2025 1337Z-1517Z
