We're not just testing rockets in Briggs! Our Elytra spacecraft is fresh off the test stand at our Rocket Ranch after successfully completing static load qualification. Built with our carbon composites, Elytra's lightweight barrel weighs just 32 lbs and withstood 22,500 lbs of force (22.5 kip) during testing - far surpassing the force expected during flight.
Stay tuned as we get ready to launch Elytra on Alpha later this year and complete Elytra's first on-orbit mission for the NRO.
SAT-LOA-20240315-00057QuoteThe Elytra-1 spacecraft will be launched as a primary payload aboard Firefly’s Alpha rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, no earlier than September 19, 2024. It will be inserted into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at 475 +/- 20 km apogee and 475 +/- 20 km perigee with an inclination of approximately 97.3 +/- 0.15 degrees with an LTAN of 00:00 +30/-0 mins.The Elytra bus is 65 cm tall with a diameter of 100 cm. When outfitted for this specific mission, the overall dimensions are 215 cm tall and 196 cm outer diameter. There are four radially-mounted 6U-equivalent CubeSat dispensers mounted directly to the bus, each of which has two spring-loaded doors which remain open once the dispenser is actuated. Each of these dispenser assemblies features a non-deployable solar panel. The bus has a 38-inch class separation system between itself and the launch vehicle. The end of the bus opposite this separation system has an aluminum adapter cone. A FANTM-RiDE CubeSat dispenser from Xtenti, LLC is attached to the adapter cone. This CubeSat dispenser has two actuated doors which can open or close upon command. Elytra-1 has no mechanical deployments (solar arrays, antennas, booms, etc.) other than CubeSat separation events and the dispenser doors. Elytra-1 is instrumented with two full HD color wide field of view cameras (mounted to FANTM-RiDE) and several temperature sensors.
The Elytra-1 spacecraft will be launched as a primary payload aboard Firefly’s Alpha rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, no earlier than September 19, 2024. It will be inserted into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at 475 +/- 20 km apogee and 475 +/- 20 km perigee with an inclination of approximately 97.3 +/- 0.15 degrees with an LTAN of 00:00 +30/-0 mins.The Elytra bus is 65 cm tall with a diameter of 100 cm. When outfitted for this specific mission, the overall dimensions are 215 cm tall and 196 cm outer diameter. There are four radially-mounted 6U-equivalent CubeSat dispensers mounted directly to the bus, each of which has two spring-loaded doors which remain open once the dispenser is actuated. Each of these dispenser assemblies features a non-deployable solar panel. The bus has a 38-inch class separation system between itself and the launch vehicle. The end of the bus opposite this separation system has an aluminum adapter cone. A FANTM-RiDE CubeSat dispenser from Xtenti, LLC is attached to the adapter cone. This CubeSat dispenser has two actuated doors which can open or close upon command. Elytra-1 has no mechanical deployments (solar arrays, antennas, booms, etc.) other than CubeSat separation events and the dispenser doors. Elytra-1 is instrumented with two full HD color wide field of view cameras (mounted to FANTM-RiDE) and several temperature sensors.
During an interview at Everyday Astronaut's Astro Awards earlier this year, Firefly CEO Bill Webber said this will be Alpha Flight 7 (FLTA007):https://www.youtube.com/live/XFTSGDkATO0?si=uz197GX5HZ9uKPwH&t=7093Quote from: YouTubeThe Everyday Astronaut team is so excited to host our first in-person event and awards show in Austin, TX on January 14, 2024 at the Paramount Theatre!
The Everyday Astronaut team is so excited to host our first in-person event and awards show in Austin, TX on January 14, 2024 at the Paramount Theatre!
Firefly Aerospace@Firefly_SpaceCongrats to the team on a successful critical design review for Blue Ghost Mission 2! In true Firefly fashion, the milestone was rapidly completed just a year after the NASA CLPS award. More to come as we begin to build the Elytra Dark + Blue Ghost duo to support this mission to lunar orbit and the far side of the Moon. Learn more here: https://fireflyspace.com/missions/blue-ghost-mission-2/
We're thrilled to announce Elytra's new edge computing platform that supports real-time data processing on orbit. Our first customer @KlepsydraTech will utilize the platform to demonstrate their AI application on Elytra Mission 1 later this year.
Firefly Aerospace@Firefly_SpaceThe next Blue Ghost payload, Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS), has been successfully integrated! EDS will test how electric fields can protect spacecraft from hazardous dust particles that cover the Moon's surface.
New firefly documentary
Firefly Aerospace Inc. investors are considering a sale that could value the closely held rocket and moon lander maker at about $1.5 billion, according to people with knowledge of the matter.Backers, which include US private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, are working with an adviser on strategic options for Firefly, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.The company, which is expected to attract interest from private equity firms and space industry peers, could elect against a sale, the people said.Representatives for AE and Firefly declined to comment.AE invested $75 million in Cedar Park, Texas-based Firefly as part of a series B financing round in 2022. The firm made a subsequent investment in its Series C round in November 2023, which valued the company at $1.5 billion.Investors have backed the company on deal making, including its 2023 acquisition of Spaceflight Inc., a satellite developer and broker for launch services, according to Firefly’s website.Firefly’s single-use Alpha rocket has contracts to launch satellites for the Department of Defense and for NASA, as well as commercial satellite operators.Firefly also aims to launch its Blue Ghost spacecraft to the moon later this year carrying scientific instruments under a NASA program.
Should be Northrop Grumman as the most potential buyer.
Sierra Space is one possibility, would give them LV for Dreamchaser and satellites they manufacturer. They also have access to good financial backing. The big question is what happens to Wallops Antares pad if NG is no longer involved. NG still own/lease it and Dreamchaser is competitor to Cygnus.
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.
Thank you General Michael A. Guetlein for visiting Firefly's Rocket Ranch facilities and meeting with our team. Your support and insights are invaluable to advancing Responsive Space. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the @SpaceForceDoD.
The huge order from LM do show probability that LM could be in Firefly's new investor (maybe just a portion, not fully)Especially given LM had invested in Rocket Lab and ABL
Proud to announce a new Alpha launch capability at @NASAWallops! With multiple launch sites and more availability, we can move even faster to support our customers' needs. Pad-0A will be configured to launch Alpha in addition to our Medium Launch Vehicle.
June 24, 2024Firefly Aerospace Adds Alpha Launch Capability on Wallops Island, VirginiaCedar Park, Texas, June 24, 2024 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it is adding an Alpha launch capability at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia. In support of Firefly’s responsive space missions, Pad-0A will be configured to launch Alpha as early as 2025 in addition to Antares 330 and the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) Firefly is co-developing with Northrop Grumman. “Firefly is committed to establishing a regular on-demand launch service and serving our customers’ growing responsive space needs, and that requires operating a diverse set of launch sites,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Virginia Spaceport Authority further sets us up for success by enabling a streamlined approach to launching both Alpha and MLV from one location at MARS with minimal congestion from the broader launch market.”The new launch capability on Wallops Island will supplement Firefly’s existing Alpha launch facilities and further enable Firefly to support rapid, on-demand missions for government and commercial customers. In addition to the launch pad, Firefly plans to operate a launch control center, horizontal integration facility, and administrative office space on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Firefly will also utilize existing infrastructure in the area, such as vehicle and payload processing facilities, to eliminate bottlenecks and retain Firefly’s rapid launch capabilities, recently demonstrated for the VICTUS NOX mission that was executed with a 24-hour launch notice.“As growth at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport accelerates, we are delighted to welcome Firefly Aerospace to Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The Commonwealth plays a critical role in supporting national security as the need to maintain our nation’s leadership in space becomes increasingly evident. I look forward to Firefly’s success in Virginia as we work together to bolster our nation’s aerospace industry.” Capable of lifting more than 1,000 kg to low-Earth orbit, Firefly’s flight-proven Alpha rocket utilizes patented propulsion technology and carbon composite structures built with automated machinery to provide a reliable, low cost, responsive solution for the domestic and international launch market. With East and West Coast launch capabilities, Firefly will further increase Alpha’s launch cadence to a monthly basis by 2026 after launching up to four times in 2024 and six times in 2025.
Launch Pad-0A will be configured to support Alpha rocket in addition to Antares 330 and new Medium Launch Vehicle
