Author Topic: Firefly Space : Company and Development General Thread  (Read 451564 times)

Offline Zed_Noir

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I just realized that there is an operational and flying launcher in this range.

Minotaur IV will do 1.5 tons to LEO.

Restricted launcher. Not too sure you can offer the Minotaur for non-US government missions, since the Minotaur components are mainly from old USAF ICBMs.

Offline Kryten

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Restricted launcher. Not too sure you can offer the Minotaur for non-US government missions, since the Minotaur components are mainly from old USAF ICBMs.
You legally can't, but Minotaur-C is unrestricted and in roughly the same size class.

Offline ringsider

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Interesting article about Max Polyakov:

http://micetimes.asia/max-polyakov-firefly-aerospace-not-flyable/

I had no idea about his background.

Offline Markstark

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Interesting article about Max Polyakov:

http://micetimes.asia/max-polyakov-firefly-aerospace-not-flyable/

I had no idea about his background.

Difficult but interesting read.


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Offline gongora

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Restricted launcher. Not too sure you can offer the Minotaur for non-US government missions, since the Minotaur components are mainly from old USAF ICBMs.
You legally can't, but Minotaur-C is unrestricted and in roughly the same size class.

and about 4 times the price that Firefly is aiming for.
« Last Edit: 02/25/2018 09:41 pm by gongora »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Markusic: plan to do two launches next year, eight in 2020. Need to do four a year to break even. #SatShow

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/973259060442050560
« Last Edit: 03/12/2018 05:42 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline fthomassy

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Quote
Want to win a spot on the Firefly bus? The bus will tour our corporate headquarters in Cedar Park and then head out to watch us test the new Lightning engine in person! Stop by booth 405 at the Austin Convention Center to complete an entry form.
https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/973263028111147010
« Last Edit: 03/12/2018 05:53 pm by fthomassy »
gyatm . . . Fern

Offline fthomassy

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There are pictures out there of the Firefly booth at SXSW but I don't know if it is appropriate to post pics from LinkedIn. Super cool static display of engine, combustion chamber and Alpha model.

Anyone know the right way to post/link that stuff here?
« Last Edit: 03/12/2018 05:51 pm by fthomassy »
gyatm . . . Fern

Offline Lars-J

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So who revived Firefly? And how many of the past employees did the bring back?

Offline Lars-J

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There are pictures out there of the Firefly booth at SXSW but I don't know if it is appropriate to post pics from LinkedIn. Super cool static display of engine, combustion chamber and Alpha model.

Anyone know the right way to post/link that stuff here?

As long as it is placed in a publicly accessible page, I see no problem with attaching a copy *and* linking to such a page. (Just like the policy of quoting/linking pics from twitter)

But I’m not a lawyer.

Offline fthomassy

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I think this link is public but my LinkedIn app loads automatically. Just let me know if this fails.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6378660087690600448
« Last Edit: 03/13/2018 03:41 am by fthomassy »
gyatm . . . Fern

Offline fthomassy

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gyatm . . . Fern

Offline Davidthefat

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https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6378660087690600448
What are we looking at?  1st stage Reaver or 2nd stage Lightning engine?


Nozzle extension makes me think Lightening. Or could it have been the old FRE?
« Last Edit: 03/13/2018 02:04 pm by Davidthefat »

Offline msat

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https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6378660087690600448
What are we looking at?  1st stage Reaver or 2nd stage Lightning engine?

Just below the throat on the divergent section has the word "LIGHTNING" printed on it.

Offline Markstark

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That looks awesome


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Offline Davidthefat

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Also, surely the CFRP extension is just for show?

Offline matthewkantar

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Also, surely the CFRP extension is just for show?

Carbon composite nozzle is puzzling. Why would they waste materials and time to manufacture a dummy? Could this contain a metal cooling jacket and inner shell? Appears to be a regen cooling set up, would rule out ablatives, no?

Matthew

Offline Gliderflyer

Also, surely the CFRP extension is just for show?

Carbon composite nozzle is puzzling. Why would they waste materials and time to manufacture a dummy? Could this contain a metal cooling jacket and inner shell? Appears to be a regen cooling set up, would rule out ablatives, no?

Matthew
I'm guessing that this particular engine is just for show. In this image on Facebook (attached) the inside of the chamber is silver instead the normal orange copper color. Based on this, I would guess that it is (mostly) an aluminum or stainless mock up for display purposes (it is also missing the normal rats-nest of sensor and control wiring). This would make sense as there is a lot less risk in bringing a display engine to a conference compared to bringing a flight engine that could be on a test stand making money. I would guess that the flight engine would be a regen cooled nickle-plated closeout chamber, with a carbon-carbon nozzle extension.
« Last Edit: 03/14/2018 01:10 am by Gliderflyer »
I tried it at home

Offline Katana

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Also, surely the CFRP extension is just for show?

Carbon composite nozzle is puzzling. Why would they waste materials and time to manufacture a dummy? Could this contain a metal cooling jacket and inner shell? Appears to be a regen cooling set up, would rule out ablatives, no?

Matthew
Looks like turbine exhaust film cooling, CFRP ablative extension with turbine exhaust film cooling is OK.

What's on the top of main chamber injector? Servo system for adjustable pintle injector?

Offline fthomassy

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Attended Firefly re-launch party for employee friends and family. Here are some close ups of the Lightening 80X (2nd stage static display that was a SXSW.
gyatm . . . Fern

 

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