Quote from: Tywin on 10/03/2022 03:13 amI hope Firefly has her own section because is maybe will be an amazing company...It might make sense to combine the NGIS and Firefly sections, since the new Antares will use basically the Beta first stage.
I hope Firefly has her own section because is maybe will be an amazing company...
U.S. Space Force Selects Firefly Aerospace for ‘Rapid Space’ VICTUS NOX MissionContract worth $17.6M is part of The U.S. Space Force’s mission to demonstrate end-to-end tactical responsive space capabilitiesOctober 03, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight TimeCEDAR PARK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Firefly Aerospace, Inc, announced today that the company has been selected by The U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) to provide launch services for SSC’s VICTUS NOX mission. The effort was awarded as the Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS-3) Launch Service Task Order under the Orbital Services Program 4 (OSP-4) Contract.“The United States’ launch industry is the envy of the world, innovating to bring more speed and more capability at a lower price.”The VICTUS NOX mission will demonstrate an end-to-end Tactically Responsive Space capability, including the launch segment, space segment, ground segment, and on-orbit operations. VICTUS NOX will perform a Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).“We are honored to be chosen by Space Force for this important national security mission,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Now more than ever, our country needs the ability for quick response capabilities to combat threats in space. Our Alpha launch vehicle is designed to drive affordable, rapid access to space. We look forward to working with Lt. Col. Justin Beltz and Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough along with their experienced team at Space Force to help bring this innovation to the national security community.”“This end-to-end mission will demonstrate the United States’ ability to rapidly place an asset on-orbit when and where we need it, ensuring we can augment our space capabilities with very little notice,” said Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, Materiel Leader at SSC’s Space Safari.The goal of the program is to bolster the United States “responsive space” capabilities allowing for the fast deployment of satellites during a conflict.“Space Systems Command is committed to addressing threats in the space domain and VICTUS NOX will provide space capabilities on an unprecedented timeline,” stated Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, SSC’s Small Launch and Targets Division, chief. “The United States’ launch industry is the envy of the world, innovating to bring more speed and more capability at a lower price.”This award comes on the heels of Firefly’s first successful orbital flight. Alpha Flight 2 mission successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on October 1st. The company is also preparing for their upcoming Alpha Flight 3 mission currently being integrated to carry the NASA VCLS Demo 2 payload.
Great article by @Sandra_I_Erwin of @SpaceNews_Inc on our recent contract award with the U.S. Space Force. We are excited about this mission and looking forward to demonstrating Firefly's rapid-response launch capabilities.
Firefly says only "minor tweaks" are needed after all "To The Black" payloads reentered within weeks.The company is also expanding its Briggs, TX facility for Alpha and MLV testing.✍️ Trevor Sesnic (@124970MeV): nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/firefl…📸 Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)
Firefly Aerospace Adds Chris Emerson, Longtime Aerospace Industry Leader and Former Airbus Executive, to its Board of DirectorsFirefly Aerospace (PRNewsfoto/AE Industrial Partners, LP) Oct 20, 2022, 07:00 ETCEDAR PARK, Texas, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace ("Firefly" or "the Company"), a new space leader in launch, spacecraft, and in-space services, announced today that Chris Emerson, a seasoned industry leader with decades of aerospace expertise, has joined the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately."Chris is a respected leader with an extensive background in aerospace and defense, including his many years at Airbus, and we're thrilled to welcome him to Firefly's Board," said Bill Weber, Firefly CEO. "His track record of driving innovation in business as well as in technology will be a tremendous asset as Firefly works with our commercial customers to help them address their growing space transportation needs."Mr. Emerson brings over 25 years of aerospace experience in space, commercial aviation, U.S. defense, and rotorcraft. He is the former Chairman & CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., where he developed and executed a strategy to grow Airbus' U.S. space business. Earlier this month, Mr. Emerson joined AE Industrial Partners, LP ("AEI") as an Operating Partner, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of AEI portfolio companies' Belcan and The Atlas Group. Previously, he served as President of Airbus Helicopters, Inc., and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Airbus. Mr. Emerson started his career with the Daimler - Mercedes Benz team which later formed Airbus. He holds a BS degree from the University of Alabama. "I'm excited to offer my counsel as Firefly looks to build off its successful launch earlier this month," said Mr. Emerson. "Firefly is one of a handful of companies with the proven technology and expertise to offer customers affordable space transportation solutions, and I look forward to collaborating with Firefly's team during this new stage of the Company's evolution."With the recent successful launch of Firefly's Alpha FLTA002 mission, Firefly became the first company to launch and reach orbit from U.S. soil in only its second attempt. Firefly is also the first and only U.S. commercial space company with a rocket ready to take customers to space in the highly desired 1400kg payload lift class.Firefly was also recently selected by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) to provide launch services for SSC's VICTUS NOX mission, and the company's Space Transport Services was recently selected by NASA to provide launch services for some of the agency's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions. Firefly and Northrop Grumman Corporation also recently announced they had joined forces to provide an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket and a new medium launch vehicle to serve commercial, civil and national security space launch markets.Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners ("AEI"), a U.S.-based private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets.
Firefly Aerospace Adds Former NASA Administrator James Bridenstine to its Advisory BoardFirefly Aerospace (PRNewsfoto/AE Industrial Partners, LP)Oct 24, 2022, 07:00 ETCEDAR PARK, Texas, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace ("Firefly" or "the Company"), a new space leader in launch, spacecraft, and in-space services, announced today that former NASA Administrator James Bridenstine, who led the space agency in advancing its aeronautics, science and space exploration objectives, will be joining the Company's Advisory Board, effective immediately. "We're honored to welcome Jim, a visionary leader in aeronautics and space exploration, to the Firefly Advisory Board," said Bill Weber, Firefly CEO. "Throughout his leadership of NASA and his career, Jim has demonstrated a clear vision that the future of space exploration in the U.S. lies in effective and efficient collaboration between private enterprise and government. With the recent success of our Alpha FLTA002 mission, and our rapidly approaching mission to the moon with the Blue Ghost Lunar Lander, our team will be fortunate to have the benefit of Jim's expertise and guidance as Firefly moves to its next stage of growth and innovation."During Mr. Bridenstine's tenure as NASA Administrator from 2018 to 2021, NASA launched its Artemis program and established the Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program to partner with private enterprise in landing rovers on the lunar surface. Among his accomplishments at NASA, he managed the continued commercial resupply of the International Space Station and led agency efforts to partner with U.S. businesses on the Commercial Crew Program, which seeks to launch U.S. rockets from U.S. launch sites. Also during his tenure, NASA's science portfolio grew to include the Mars Perseverance Rover, an enhanced fleet of Earth-observing satellites, and the finalization of the James Webb Space Telescope.Prior to his time at NASA, Mr. Bridenstine served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. Before being elected to Congress, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. He holds a BA with a triple major from Rice University and an MBA from Cornell University."Firefly has an exceptional team that is building an impressive track record of success, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to help guide Firefly during this dynamic phase of its growth and development," said Mr. Bridenstine, "I look forward to advising Firefly on how they can better position the Company to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available in today's fast-evolving space economy." This appointment comes on the heels of the Company's successful orbital launch of its Alpha rocket earlier this month, as well as a series of recent announcements. This includes Firefly's selection by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) to provide launch services for SSC's VICTUS NOX mission, and being chosen by NASA to provide launch services through its Venture Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions. Firefly also recently announced a joint partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket and a new medium launch vehicle to serve commercial, civil and national security space launch markets.Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners ("AEI"), a U.S.-based private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets.
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htmQuoteNOV 29 Alpha SLC-2W Third flight of Firefly's Alpha rocket.
NOV 29 Alpha SLC-2W Third flight of Firefly's Alpha rocket.
Firefly is seeking to raise an additional $300 million in private funding, Reuters reports.
📢 Announcement: We are honored to welcome Dan Fermon, former GE Sr. Executive, as our COO. Along with Dan's appointment, we have also added Justin Siebert as VP of Operations and Production. Justin was most recently Deputy VP of Operations at BAE Systems. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221102005416/en/Firefly-Aerospace-Names-Former-GE-Senior-Executive-Dan-Fermon-as-Chief-Operating-Officer
Any new news about the next Alpha launch?(NET November 29)
This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Firefly’s FLT 003 from Vandenberg Space Force Base SLC-2. This includes a suborbital first stage and an orbital second stage. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. This STA Extension accounts for delays in planned launch which was intended to occur in September 2022, which now is planned for January 2023.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launchesQuoteELaNa 43Nine CubeSat missions scheduled to be deployed CatSat - University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. KUbe-Sat-1 - University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. MESAT1 - University of Maine, Orono, Maine R5-S4 - NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas R5-S2-2.0 - NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas REAL - Dartmouth University, Hanover, N.H. SOC-i - University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. TechEdSat-11 - NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. Serenity - Teachers in Space, North America
ELaNa 43Nine CubeSat missions scheduled to be deployed CatSat - University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. KUbe-Sat-1 - University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. MESAT1 - University of Maine, Orono, Maine R5-S4 - NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas R5-S2-2.0 - NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas REAL - Dartmouth University, Hanover, N.H. SOC-i - University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. TechEdSat-11 - NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. Serenity - Teachers in Space, North America
The purpose of the mission is to launch a payload under contract FA8818-20-D-0004 to the Departmentof Defense, administered by DCMA Dallas. The mission will be launched from SLC-2W at VandenbergSpace Force Base (VSFB). Launch parameters under the contract are variable due to the nature of thecontract which is designed to test tactical response capabilities; orbits, payloads, and trajectories will beprovided to Firefly at dates outlined in the contract. The launch contract Sample Orbit is 550km and anorbit list of 7 candidate orbits will be provided to Firefly on or about 17MAR2022. The contract restrictsthe inclination of the 7 candidate orbits to a range of 95-100 degrees. Telemetry from the vehicle will betransmitted for mission duration using 2215 MHz and a redundant downlink using 2272.5 MHz will be inuse only during the period of Range Safety responsibility. Stage Two of the launch vehicle will downlinkdata to the VAFB Telemetry Receiving Station (VTRS) and Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) groundstation locations in Hawaii (Paumalu), Mauritius, and South Africa (Hartebeesthoek) over a period of lessthan 2 orbits. The entire mission is expected to be approximately two hours in duration.The launch vehicle uses a traditional Flight Termination System (FTS) - ground-commanded initiation ofthe onboard ordnance, with additional failsafes, for the purpose of ending powered flight if necessary.The FTS will be armed just prior to launch and will not receive a ground commanded signal once theperiod of Range Safety responsibility has ended. The FTS will be inoperable after passivation.Once the vehicle reaches the final orbit it will deploy any separable payloads. Stage Two willautonomously passivate after the final telemetry downlink – venting onboard propellant and gas,draining the stage’s batteries, and ensuring there is no remaining source of energy available to thestage. All launch vehicle radios will automatically turn off at this point. Firefly anticipates no attachedpayloads for this mission. The passivation and RF control script for the vehicle is programmed into thecontrol system and is autonomous. The launch vehicle does not include a command receiver; therefore,the RF communication link from the launch vehicle is not able to be controlled or turned off from theground.
Any news if Flight 3 is still on track for January? Hard to get excited for Flight 4 in April if three doesnt make it in time. Will be impressed if they can hit a quarterly cadence this year tho.
Quote from: Foximus on 12/21/2022 03:27 pmAny news if Flight 3 is still on track for January? Hard to get excited for Flight 4 in April if three doesnt make it in time. Will be impressed if they can hit a quarterly cadence this year tho.https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=119834&RequestTimeout=1000 Per this link, the start date is now listed as 02/01/23, so it's NET February now