Quote from: e of pi on 04/02/2018 03:11 pm>Note that the vendor Boeing worked with (Janicki Industries of Washington state) has also been SpaceX's subcontractor for the BFR composite tanks, and from the operations described in their filings for the new Port of LA factory Janikcki may also supply the flight tanks for BFR. So there's a direct line here from a NASA/Boeing proof of concept enabling SpaceX's BFR.Nit: via a Teslarati report, SpaceX's new 9m CF tooling is from Ascent Aerospace Coast Composites.
>Note that the vendor Boeing worked with (Janicki Industries of Washington state) has also been SpaceX's subcontractor for the BFR composite tanks, and from the operations described in their filings for the new Port of LA factory Janikcki may also supply the flight tanks for BFR. So there's a direct line here from a NASA/Boeing proof of concept enabling SpaceX's BFR.
Firefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 WestCEDAR PARK, Texas, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace, Inc. (Firefly), a developer of orbital launch vehicles for the small to medium satellite market, announced today that the United States Air Force (USAF) has issued a "Statement of Support for the Firefly Aerospace Program, Alpha and Beta Launch Vehicles" to utilize Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) for future launches of the Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles."Firefly Aerospace is greatly appreciative that NASA and the USAF support the transition of SLC-2W to a commercial launch site dedicated to the launch of Firefly vehicles," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "SLC-2W has been an incredible asset for US space missions for over 50 years. We are humbled and honored that Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles will be adding many successful missions to the already storied history of SLC-2W."30th Space Wing Commander, Colonel Michael S. Hough, stated: "We are excited to be currently working with a new launch provider, Firefly, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This is a new commercial space lift provider seeking to launch commercial satellites from SLC-2W."Firefly's Director of Launch, Brad Obrocto, added: "Converting an active government launch site to commercial operation is substantially less complex and costly than the greenfield development of a new launch site, saving Firefly years of facility development and substantial capex dollars. This enables Firefly to stay on track for Alpha's first flight by the third quarter of 2019 and ramp up to monthly launches by the end of 2020. The accommodation of Firefly launch by the USAF significantly enhances Firefly's ability to service the full spectrum of government and commercial customers from one location and advances Firefly's vision of 'Making Space for Everyone.'"
QuoteFirefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 WestCEDAR PARK, Texas, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace, Inc. (Firefly), a developer of orbital launch vehicles for the small to medium satellite market, announced today that the United States Air Force (USAF) has issued a "Statement of Support for the Firefly Aerospace Program, Alpha and Beta Launch Vehicles" to utilize Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) for future launches of the Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles."Firefly Aerospace is greatly appreciative that NASA and the USAF support the transition of SLC-2W to a commercial launch site dedicated to the launch of Firefly vehicles," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "SLC-2W has been an incredible asset for US space missions for over 50 years. We are humbled and honored that Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles will be adding many successful missions to the already storied history of SLC-2W."30th Space Wing Commander, Colonel Michael S. Hough, stated: "We are excited to be currently working with a new launch provider, Firefly, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This is a new commercial space lift provider seeking to launch commercial satellites from SLC-2W."Firefly's Director of Launch, Brad Obrocto, added: "Converting an active government launch site to commercial operation is substantially less complex and costly than the greenfield development of a new launch site, saving Firefly years of facility development and substantial capex dollars. This enables Firefly to stay on track for Alpha's first flight by the third quarter of 2019 and ramp up to monthly launches by the end of 2020. The accommodation of Firefly launch by the USAF significantly enhances Firefly's ability to service the full spectrum of government and commercial customers from one location and advances Firefly's vision of 'Making Space for Everyone.'"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firefly-aerospace-receives-statement-of-support-from-the-united-states-air-force-for-use-of-vandenberg-air-force-base-space-launch-complex-2-west-300639495.html
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 05/01/2018 01:59 pmQuoteFirefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 WestCEDAR PARK, Texas, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace, Inc. (Firefly), a developer of orbital launch vehicles for the small to medium satellite market, announced today that the United States Air Force (USAF) has issued a "Statement of Support for the Firefly Aerospace Program, Alpha and Beta Launch Vehicles" to utilize Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) for future launches of the Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles."Firefly Aerospace is greatly appreciative that NASA and the USAF support the transition of SLC-2W to a commercial launch site dedicated to the launch of Firefly vehicles," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "SLC-2W has been an incredible asset for US space missions for over 50 years. We are humbled and honored that Firefly Alpha and Beta launch vehicles will be adding many successful missions to the already storied history of SLC-2W."30th Space Wing Commander, Colonel Michael S. Hough, stated: "We are excited to be currently working with a new launch provider, Firefly, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This is a new commercial space lift provider seeking to launch commercial satellites from SLC-2W."Firefly's Director of Launch, Brad Obrocto, added: "Converting an active government launch site to commercial operation is substantially less complex and costly than the greenfield development of a new launch site, saving Firefly years of facility development and substantial capex dollars. This enables Firefly to stay on track for Alpha's first flight by the third quarter of 2019 and ramp up to monthly launches by the end of 2020. The accommodation of Firefly launch by the USAF significantly enhances Firefly's ability to service the full spectrum of government and commercial customers from one location and advances Firefly's vision of 'Making Space for Everyone.'"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firefly-aerospace-receives-statement-of-support-from-the-united-states-air-force-for-use-of-vandenberg-air-force-base-space-launch-complex-2-west-300639495.htmlIf that's the way things end up, I guess that means that NorthropGrummanOrbitalATK will be forced to look into SLC-6 for their OmegA rocket at VAFB.
"Firefly Aerospace does the work both in Texas, and in Ukraine. American and Ukrainian engineers work together. You can’t say, whether the final product is American or a Ukrainian one."http://spaceukraine.com/2017/10/01/mikhail-ryabokon-head-of-innovation-at-noosphere-all-the-breakthrough-ideas-are-suggested-by-young-people/ - Ed Kyle
Wow. That is quite a thing to say for an ITAR-controlled American launch company.
Quote from: ringsider on 05/02/2018 06:03 pmWow. That is quite a thing to say for an ITAR-controlled American launch company.That's why I thought it'd be a good question for the CEO. Either this fellow is wrong, the context was misunderstood or there are protocols keep with ITAR. It's never what we -the uninformed public- think.
That's the only way I can think of how they can operate without Homeland Security raiding their offices.
Unless their offices are being raided as we type, as a response to that article. It is bound to raise a lot of eyebrows
Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/02/2018 01:37 pm"Firefly Aerospace does the work both in Texas, and in Ukraine. American and Ukrainian engineers work together. You can’t say, whether the final product is American or a Ukrainian one."http://spaceukraine.com/2017/10/01/mikhail-ryabokon-head-of-innovation-at-noosphere-all-the-breakthrough-ideas-are-suggested-by-young-people/ - Ed KyleWow. That is quite a thing to say for an ITAR-controlled American launch company.
Quote from: Davidthefat on 05/02/2018 07:27 pmThat's the only way I can think of how they can operate without Homeland Security raiding their offices.Unless their offices are being raided as we type, as a response to that article. It is bound to raise a lot of eyebrows, which may not be good for Firefly as they seem to be in negotiations to take over SLC-2W at VAFB.
No. You, and others here, don't understand. There are perfectly legitimate ways of having (parts) of your rockets designed and built outside the USA without violating ITAR and/or MTCR. As Ed has pointed out there are many examples of US companies fielding rockets with foreign built- and supplied components.
Quote from: Lars-J on 05/02/2018 07:31 pmQuote from: Davidthefat on 05/02/2018 07:27 pmThat's the only way I can think of how they can operate without Homeland Security raiding their offices.Unless their offices are being raided as we type, as a response to that article. It is bound to raise a lot of eyebrows, which may not be good for Firefly as they seem to be in negotiations to take over SLC-2W at VAFB.No. You, and others here, don't understand. There are perfectly legitimate ways of having (parts) of your rockets designed and built outside the USA without violating ITAR and/or MTCR.
Quote from: Lars-J on 05/02/2018 07:31 pmQuote from: Davidthefat on 05/02/2018 07:27 pmThat's the only way I can think of how they can operate without Homeland Security raiding their offices.Unless their offices are being raided as we type, as a response to that article. It is bound to raise a lot of eyebrows, which may not be good for Firefly as they seem to be in negotiations to take over SLC-2W at VAFB.No. You, and others here, don't understand. There are perfectly legitimate ways of having (parts) of your rockets designed and built outside the USA without violating ITAR and/or MTCR. As Ed has pointed out there are many examples of US companies fielding rockets with foreign built- and supplied components.