Author Topic: Firefly Space : Company and Development General Thread  (Read 451392 times)

Offline vaporcobra

>
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.

FWIW, another supplier is Airtech, likely more on the materiel side of things.
http://www.airtechintl.com/en

Offline Kryten

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 Firefly have updated their website with a next-gen Beta design, the PUG has also been updated to include it. 4,000kg to LEO, 3,000kg to 500km SSO, and 400kg inclined GSO. The first stages look to be standard Alpha ones but the second stage is a new wider unit, albeit with the same engine as the Alpha one.

Offline TrevorMonty

A 3 core heaviy is never that simple as SpaceX found out, but lot easier if they've employed a few exFH engineers.

« Last Edit: 04/16/2018 06:04 pm by TrevorMonty »

Offline vaporcobra

Some more details. I was conflicted, but it looks a lot more elegant in the User Guide.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Firefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 West



CEDAR 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

Offline Lars-J

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Quote
Firefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 West



CEDAR 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

If 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.

Offline woods170

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Quote
Firefly Aerospace Receives Statement of Support from the United States Air Force for Use of Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 West



CEDAR 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

If 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.

There was never any question about that given that SLC-2W is under-sized for OmegA.

Offline fthomassy

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"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
Well done finding that! Seems to be a good question to put into Markusic's next interview. Oh and ITAR?
gyatm . . . Fern

Offline ringsider

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"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.
« Last Edit: 05/02/2018 06:03 pm by ringsider »

Offline fthomassy

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Wow. 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 to keep with ITAR. It's never rarely what we -the uninformed public- think.

Edit for clarity. fern
« Last Edit: 05/02/2018 07:26 pm by fthomassy »
gyatm . . . Fern

Offline Davidthefat

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Wow. 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.

Also given the source, the wording might have been to minimize criticisms from the Ukrainian public regarding why they are sending money to foreigners. In reality the Ukrainians are subcontractors that have very defined subsystems that they work on without technical input from the Americans.

Like they may be using Ukrainian avionics with American software and American hardware (as an example).

That's the only way I can think of how they can operate without Homeland Security raiding their offices.

Offline Lars-J

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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, which may not be good for Firefly as they seem to be in negotiations to take over SLC-2W at VAFB.

Offline ringsider

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Unless their offices are being raided as we type, as a response to that article. It is bound to raise a lot of eyebrows

You are not kidding. If there's one thing the US govt. does not screw around on it is MTCR proliferation, and a lot of rocket tech is not just ITAR controlled but also in the MTCR annex of the US Munitions List, which is waaaay more tightly controlled.

ITAR fines are massive, FLIR just got a $30m fine for exporting information to foreign workers about  imaging cameras:-

"According to the government, FLIR violated various parts of the Arms Export Control Act and ITAR more than 300 times. Many of these violations had to do with foreign employees with access to sensitive information..."

Companies have to be very, very careful what they do once aware of the issue - FLIR did a voluntary disclosure and still got hit. Even worse, if the State Dept. actively investigates because of a news story without voluntary disclosure, the penalities are draconian. And you know, once they get inside, they always, always find something to make a case - doesn't matter who you are: ULA, Airbus have been hammered before. Even the big guys get it wrong.
« Last Edit: 05/02/2018 09:50 pm by ringsider »

Offline woods170

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"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.


How is this any different from Orbital-ATK fielding a launch vehicle with Russian-built engines, Ukrainian designed- and built first stage, with only the upper stage, fairing and avionics being US-built?

The answer is: it isn't any different, and nobody ever made a problem of Antares being well over 50% of foreign origin.

Also: has ITAR recently prevented Atlas V from being launched?
« Last Edit: 05/03/2018 07:07 am by woods170 »

Offline woods170

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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, 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.

Offline ringsider

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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.

You are correct but the export of designs, or even know-how, for various essential components is heavily controlled and would need a license for each item. Each instance of a breach is $100,000 fine.

Import is another matter, and would depend on the export controls in Ukraine, which is an MTCR signatory. Let's not forget that the entire reason DNEPR disappeared from the market was the crisis in Ukraine.

Offline Lars-J

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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, 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.


Of course there are legitimate ways to do it. But are they doing it the right way? The Firefly leadership doesn’t have the best track record when dealing with intellectual property and legalities. But we’ll have to wait and see.

Offline ringsider

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And while googling "firefly ukraine" in Google News, this was the 3rd hit:

http://micetimes.asia/max-polyakov-and-maxim-krippa-are-suspected-of-cybercrime-in-ukraine/

Max Polyakov and Maxim Krippa are suspected of cybercrime in Ukraine

13.04.2018

Cyberpolice came out on the trail of an organized criminal group that organizes gambling on the Internet and creates porn studios in Ukraine. In recent days the security enforcers closed off 8 gambling sites like “Vulkan” and took under arrest 12 people. In total, more than 200 online casino sites are featured in the case. As a result of the investigative actions, it was possible to establish that the centralized control over a part of the illegal gaming business in Ukraine is carried out by Max Polyakov, a businessman from Zaporozhye who now lives in the USA.The official assets of the businessman include such companies: Noosphere Ventures, Together Networks, Murka and a failed aerospace startup FireFly.   The operational activity of the group is monitored by Max Polyakov’s Kiev partner Maxim Krippa.

Law enforcers say that the group has been operating for several years. In 2015, the enforcers closed off a porn studio with online chat rooms in the center of Zaporozhye. The studio was located in the office of the company Easy Date, which is in the holding of Max Polyakov’s dating sites. In the course of operational activities, cyberpolice officials found that several online casino sites were also operating from those computers, and that office is only part of the global criminal structure.

By 2017, a significant amount of information was collected and operational activities began. Over the past year, police officers have closed off more than 50 porn studios in various regions of Ukraine and blocked the activities of dozens of online casino sites. But it was only at the beginning of 2018 that they managed to reach the head of the criminal group. It turned out that all regional units of the organized criminal group are led from several offices in Kiev.

The main product of the group are online casino sites such as “Vulkan”. An important feature of all resources was that activity is aimed at the inhabitants of the CIS. Despite the blocking of sites on the territory of Ukraine, online casino support service offers to use of programs that replace IP addresses to provide anonymous access and free visits to such resources. The scheme of input-output of money during the game was built only with the use of Russian banking institutions and payment systems.
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According to the National Police of Ukraine, today, employees of the cyberpolice have already conducted 15 authorized searches. According to their results, more than a hundred pieces of computer equipment, mobile phones, additional storage media, bank cards, a checkbook of an American bank, Russian passports of criminal group members, official and draft documents were seized. Weapons, ammunition, drugs and money in foreign currency were also seized.
« Last Edit: 05/03/2018 11:33 am by ringsider »

Offline Davidthefat

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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, 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.

Exactly, my point being that Ukrainians are strictly subcontractors.

Offline john smith 19

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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, 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.
True.

The problems start for LV mfg in other countries trying to source US parts or run tests on US facilities and becoming contaminated by US ITAR restrictions.

It take very careful attention to detail to avoid ITAR contamination to allow overseas LV mfgs and designers to use US hardware without the whole panoply of the State Depts unwieldy bureaucracy dropping on them.  :(
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

 

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