Aviation week put out a (paywalled) article on the re-emergence of Firefly Aerospace last weekhttp://aviationweek.com/awinspace/firefly-re-emerges-upgraded-alpha-rocket-designHighlights:Fully funded by high net worth individualAbout 1 year behind original Firefly schedule (original launch of Q2 2018)Upgraded performanceSwitch to pump fed engine, not sure if it will be aerospikeNamed Reaver
Aviation week put out a (paywalled) article on the re-emergence of Firefly Aerospace last weekhttp://aviationweek.com/awinspace/firefly-re-emerges-upgraded-alpha-rocket-designHighlights:Fully funded by high net worth individual
Is firefly owned and financed by Polyakov?.
Tom Markusic from @Firefly_Space presenting stratregy to get to Mars now @TheMarsSociety #Mars
Salvaging spent GEO sats to use for Mars equipment supply, ok ...QuoteTom Markusic from @Firefly_Space presenting stratregy to get to Mars now @TheMarsSociety #Marshttps://twitter.com/arminellis/status/906257800623407104
Also, from The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies: "Ownership of objects launched into outer space, including objects landed or constructed on a celestial body, and of their component parts, is not affected by their presence in outer space or on a celestial body or by their return to the earth. Such objects or component parts found beyond the limits of the State Party to the Treaty on whose registry they are carried shall be returned to that State Party, which shall, upon request, furnish identifying data prior to their return."In other words, there is no salvage in space. (You'd have to buy the hardware.)
Intriguing! @Firefly_Space has started a test livestream on YouTube, the first social media movement from the company in the better part of five months. Even more interesting, the stream's cover image shows a vac engine and an updated (?) aerospike design. Left: new, old: right.
Is it possible that only three or four engines are gimbaled?
From the color image above, it looks like only one of the engines sown is gimbaled. Maybe the other actuators are not shown? Is it possible that only three or four engines are gimbaled?Matthew