Quote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 12:59 pmQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 04/26/2023 07:47 amQuote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 04:39 amSomething's up with Firefly Aerospace, or at least with the firefly.com domain. This morning the website had the usual stuff. Tonight the domain is for sale. Their Twitter account still has it as the link.Not sure what is going on. The expiry date on the domain is 2030-05-29 with the domain registry information last updated on 2021-08-31. Firefly does have another domain https://fireflyspace.com/ which is working.Apparently they started redirecting https://firefly.com/ to https://fireflyspace.com/ back in January. (I'm surprised I didn't notice.)They should have changed the link in their Twitter bio.Maybe it has to do with the company renaming itself from Firefly Aerospace Incorporated (FAI) to Firefly Space Incorporated (FSI) in filings as they are now going to focus solely on space.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 04/26/2023 07:47 amQuote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 04:39 amSomething's up with Firefly Aerospace, or at least with the firefly.com domain. This morning the website had the usual stuff. Tonight the domain is for sale. Their Twitter account still has it as the link.Not sure what is going on. The expiry date on the domain is 2030-05-29 with the domain registry information last updated on 2021-08-31. Firefly does have another domain https://fireflyspace.com/ which is working.Apparently they started redirecting https://firefly.com/ to https://fireflyspace.com/ back in January. (I'm surprised I didn't notice.)They should have changed the link in their Twitter bio.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 04:39 amSomething's up with Firefly Aerospace, or at least with the firefly.com domain. This morning the website had the usual stuff. Tonight the domain is for sale. Their Twitter account still has it as the link.Not sure what is going on. The expiry date on the domain is 2030-05-29 with the domain registry information last updated on 2021-08-31. Firefly does have another domain https://fireflyspace.com/ which is working.
Something's up with Firefly Aerospace, or at least with the firefly.com domain. This morning the website had the usual stuff. Tonight the domain is for sale. Their Twitter account still has it as the link.
Maybe they got tired of people thinking it was a website for the TV show? 🤪
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 04/26/2023 06:48 pmQuote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 12:59 pmQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 04/26/2023 07:47 amQuote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 04:39 amSomething's up with Firefly Aerospace, or at least with the firefly.com domain. This morning the website had the usual stuff. Tonight the domain is for sale. Their Twitter account still has it as the link.Not sure what is going on. The expiry date on the domain is 2030-05-29 with the domain registry information last updated on 2021-08-31. Firefly does have another domain https://fireflyspace.com/ which is working.Apparently they started redirecting https://firefly.com/ to https://fireflyspace.com/ back in January. (I'm surprised I didn't notice.)They should have changed the link in their Twitter bio.Maybe it has to do with the company renaming itself from Firefly Aerospace Incorporated (FAI) to Firefly Space Incorporated (FSI) in filings as they are now going to focus solely on space.If it had been fireflyaerospace.com, I could see changing it to fireflyspace.com for that reason, but firefly.com doesn't contain "aerospace" in the domain name.Maybe they got tired of people thinking it was a website for the TV show?
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 04/26/2023 09:50 pmMaybe they got tired of people thinking it was a website for the TV show? 🤪Clearly their new fundraising strategy is hoping that some fanatical Browncoat will pay a pretty penny for that domain name.
The actual name of the company was changed from the original company website domain https://www.fireflyspace.com to https://fireflyaerospace.com on 2017-03-23, then https://www.firefly.com in 2019 when it pursued SPAC options and USG having problems with certain people then back to the original domain https://www.fireflyspace.com in January 2023. Each time has during or before a company reorganisation period became public information. Note that Firefly Space was the company that got sacked by a court for aerospike engine IP and other woes.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 04/26/2023 11:34 pmThe actual name of the company was changed from the original company website domain https://www.fireflyspace.com to https://fireflyaerospace.com on 2017-03-23, then https://www.firefly.com in 2019 when it pursued SPAC options and USG having problems with certain people then back to the original domain https://www.fireflyspace.com in January 2023. Each time has during or before a company reorganisation period became public information. Note that Firefly Space was the company that got sacked by a court for aerospike engine IP and other woes.Do you have a source (e.g., a legal filing) for them changing their name back to Firefly Space? Or are you saying that domain name changes have always presaged legal name changes in the past, so you're predicting that another name change is coming in the near future?
Our first ever composite common dome structure is on the test stand as we undergo development testing for our Medium Launch Vehicle. This configuration allows us to cut out the entire intertank, significantly reducing vehicle weight with fewer parts.
Another big MLV win! We built our first 2 carbon fiber pressure tanks and successfully passed qualification-level testing ahead of our structure CDR. Our ability to quickly innovate, test, and refine designs allows us to meet rapid schedules while providing robust reliability.
There aren't many things more beautiful than a rocket hot fire test... until you see a field of Texas wildflowers next to our roaring Reaver engine.
I don't think anyone posted this article from Firefly's website. Came out back in March.https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-completes-risk-reduction-testing-for-critical-miranda-engine-components/Highlights:- They have been using Reaver hotfires to buy-down risk for Miranda components. Specifically "Miranda’s main fuel valve and the throttle valve hot seal design"- They seem to suggest several times that Lightning, Reaver, and Miranda are all essentially the same engine design, just at different scales.- First Miranda hotfire this summer, with engine qualification beginning this fall.I've got to say, if they can actually get a hotfire in this summer, I might begin to believe that they could have Antares 330 flying before the end of 2024. Might. Fingers crossed that this time next year, we're taking bets on whether MLV or New Glenn will fly first.
Soooo…according to filings it looks like @Firefly_Space is planning two unannounced missions— one called ‘FANTM Ride’ and another called ‘Tantrum.’ Firefly declined to comment. 👀
I learned this after publishing a story about how the company’s NASA launch was pushed to August — busy summer for Firefly
Quote from: aria alamalhodaei tweetSoooo…according to filings it looks like @Firefly_Space is planning two unannounced missions— one called ‘FANTM Ride’ and another called ‘Tantrum.’ Firefly declined to comment. 👀 [Jun 6]Quote from: aria alamalhodaei tweetI learned this after publishing a story about how the company’s NASA launch was pushed to August — busy summer for Firefly. [Jun 6]
Soooo…according to filings it looks like @Firefly_Space is planning two unannounced missions— one called ‘FANTM Ride’ and another called ‘Tantrum.’ Firefly declined to comment. 👀 [Jun 6]
I learned this after publishing a story about how the company’s NASA launch was pushed to August — busy summer for Firefly. [Jun 6]
Firefly:1125-EX-ST-2023 Tantrum mission NET Oct1127-EX-ST-2023 FANTM Ride mission NET Nov
Big news today! Firefly is acquiring Spaceflight Inc. to further grow our on-orbit capabilities and service the entire lifecycle of our customers’ payloads. Learn more about the acquisition here:
June 8, 2023Firefly Aerospace Announces Strategic Acquisition of Spaceflight Inc. to Bolster On-Orbit ServicesCEDAR PARK, Texas, June 8, 2023 – Firefly Aerospace (“Firefly” or the “Company”) today announced the acquisition of Spaceflight Inc. to strengthen Firefly’s on-orbit solutions and service the entire lifecycle of customers’ satellites and spacecraft. The acquisition further supports Firefly’s robust portfolio of low-cost space transportation services, including responsive launch and in-space mobility, on-orbit hosting and servicing, and lunar delivery operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.“This acquisition is the result of Firefly’s business plan to strengthen the company though organic growth in addition to accelerating its capabilities with strategic acquisitions,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “The combination of Spaceflight’s on-orbit experience with Firefly’s launch vehicles, Blue Ghost landers, and Space Utility Vehicles is an overnight game changer for our customers and investors.”Spaceflight’s flight-proven orbital vehicles provide payload deliveries, hosting, and transfer services. With extensive expertise in mission management and selling and filling manifests, the company has also supported the deployment of more than 460 payloads into space. Spaceflight operates manufacturing and payload processing facilities in Bellevue, Washington, including state-of-the-art clean rooms, environmental testing capabilities, and large high bays for concurrent spacecraft production.“With a high market demand for our on-orbit services and rapid response missions, this acquisition uniquely positions Firefly to respond immediately to our customers’ needs,” said Weber. “We look forward to welcoming this team into our incredible Firefly family!”The addition of Spaceflight brings added capabilities that complement Firefly’s vertically integrated product line, including launch, lunar, and in-space vehicles. Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle is manifested through 2023 with the U.S. Space Force, NASA, and other commercial customers, as the Company concurrently builds a new medium launch vehicle in collaboration with Northrop Grumman. Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander is scheduled to complete the first of two missions to the Moon next year with NASA as the anchor customer, and Firefly’s Space Utility Vehicle has a mission scheduled early next year to demonstrate the vehicle’s on-orbit capabilities.Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners (“AEI”), a U.S.-based private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense and government services, space, power and utility services, and specialty industrial markets.
One note on this from Firefly: "Firefly will honor Spaceflight's current contracts but will not be aggregating payloads on other launch vehicles moving forward."
Firefly with a new page and renders showing their MLV (medium launch vehicle)."MLV will utilize the Firefly-manufactured Antares 330 first stage that’s powered by seven Firefly Miranda engines and a new liquid upper stage incorporating one Miranda derived vacuum engine. The vehicle will utilize technologies from Firefly’s flight-proven Alpha vehicle, such as all carbon composite structures and tap-off cycle engines, and will evolve into a reusable vehicle."The render makes it look like it's launching from 39B, like what was planned with OmegA."Launching from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, MLV is also designed to be compatible with other launch ranges, including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), California."https://fireflyspace.com/mlv/
New Medium Launch Vehicle Taking Flight in 2025Our medium launch vehicle (MLV) will fill a void in the medium-lift market by providing a 100% US-made solution that’s more affordable and responsive to national security, civil, and commercial space needs. With the first flight scheduled for 2025, MLV will be capable of launching 16,000 kg to lower Earth orbit with a 5-meter class payload fairing that can be customized based on customer needs. The vehicle will enable direct payload deliveries to customers’ preferred orbits at a comparable cost per kilogram to existing reusable rockets.OVERVIEWARCHITECTURE2 stagesOptional 3rd stageOVERALL LENGTH55.7 m183.7 ftPAYLOAD FAIRING5-meter classPROPULSIONPROPELLANTLOX / RP–1PROPELLANT FEEDTurbopumpCOMBUSTIONTap-off cycleSTAGE 1ENGINE7x MirandaTHRUST (VAC)7,161 kN1,609,857 lbfISP (VAC)305 secSTAGE 2ENGINE1x Miranda VacuumTHRUST (VAC)890 kN200,000 lbfISP (VAC)328 sec
