We’re getting the first look at the @Firefly_Space Alpha rocket test stand where a kerosene leak caused a fire during testing last night — you can see the damage is minimal @KVUE
Yesterday evening we attempted to hotfire test the Alpha first stage for the first time. Unfortunately, after the four Reaver engines ignited, an engine bay fire developed (flame jet to the left in video). The system immediately shut itself down and the fire was quickly
extinguished by automatic ground fire suppression systems. We are carefully reviewing data, inspecting hardware (photo from today) and performing root cause analysis to assess and mitigate the cause of the anomaly before we return to testing.
This video shows actual startup operation of Lightning using a TEA-TEB canister. The brief green flash at ignition signals properly sequenced ignition - the arrival of TEA-TEB to the combustion chamber prior to RP-1 fuel. Check out previous tweets for how canister was tested.
SATLANTIS enters into Launch Services Agreement with Firefly AerospaceNEWS PROVIDED BYFirefly Aerospace, Inc. Feb 04, 2020, 09:05 ET CEDAR PARK, Texas, Feb. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Aerospace, Inc. (Firefly), a provider of economical and dependable launch vehicles, spacecraft and in-space services, announced today the execution of a Launch Services Agreement with SATLANTIS, a provider of high-performance payload technologies for Earth observation and remote sensing. Beginning in 2022, SATLANTIS will utilize the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle to deploy a constellation of satellites with breakthrough high-resolution multispectral cameras with four bands of 80 cm native resolution."SATLANTIS is constantly developing cutting-edge technologies to support the growing need for high-accuracy and high-revisit Earth observation," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "The Firefly Alpha was specifically designed to support the new wave of low Earth orbit observation constellations and we are pleased to be selected by SATLANTIS to provide launch services for their constellation." "SATLANTIS efforts are aimed at providing governments, national space agencies, and industries seeking space capabilities with unparalleled access to high-quality Earth observation data, without the need to develop costly programs of their own. Our partnership with Firefly complements SATLANTIS strategy to deliver these products - by providing cost-efficient, on-demand launch services to meet the stringent orbit and revisit requirements of our constellation," said SATLANTIS CEO Juan Hernani.Alona Kolisnyk, Firefly Director of International Business Development, added that, "We have worked closely with SATLANTIS to ensure that we will be able to structure the multiple missions required to deliver their spacecraft to the inclinations of their choosing, on the schedule they require in order to achieve their business goals. We look forward to many successful missions together."ABOUT SATLANTISSATLANTIS is one of the largest specialists in high-resolution Earth observation optical payloads for small satellites worldwide, through a combination of knowledge and heritage in astrophysics, space, engineering, and business. SATLANTIS baseline technology is iSIM (integrated Standard Imager for Microsatellites), a high-resolution optical & SWIR payload for EO SmallSats that provides sub-meter resolution in four bands. The imager is especially suited for the monitoring of linear structures (coastlines, pipelines, borders). The iSIM family includes different classes of payload for microsatellites (less than 100kg) and for cubesats (12U). In addition, thanks to its eco-system of partners, SATLANTIS is able to offer complete solutions such as EO satellites and constellation services.
Schneider: looking to complete testing and get to the pad [with Firefly Alpha vehicle] in the next six months or so. #smallsatshow
Quote Schneider: looking to complete testing and get to the pad [with Firefly Alpha vehicle] in the next six months or so. #smallsatshow
IMHO the first Alpha launch is NET Q3 2020. And they will need additional funding until then. Should find some launch customers to support that.
A launcher company is only as good as its welders, and Firefly's welding team is the best in the business. The Alpha launch mount with release mechanisms is shown here. It'll soon be heading to Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 for installation!
the spacefaring startup is “a completely independent entity,” and that while Polyakov’s venture fund is the company’s majority shareholder, the Ukrainian businessman is not involved in the day-to-day operations.
“We have government contracts, and we’re just incredibly vigilant about being totally transparent and open with our shareholders and other stakeholders, our customers,” Markusic said. “We have a whole legal team that ensures we are compliant with all legal and ethical requirements for contracts with the government.”
Interesting article about Max Polyakov:http://micetimes.asia/max-polyakov-firefly-aerospace-not-flyable/I had no idea about his background.
Polyakov and Noosphere has no say in Firefly's operations? Yeaaaaah right. And R&D center in Dnipro, Ukraine is purely Markusic's idea then ? And Firefly being called Ukrainian-American in Ukraine is just Noosphere exaggerating for PR purposes (they do, partly, but..)? And Polyakov being regarded, as far as I've seen, the owner of the company (even if Markusic is CEO) also doesn't mean anything?Sorry, can't believe Markusic's words. It's clear he'd prefer to only take money and do his thing. He'd prefer for Firefly to indeed be fully independent. But I don't believe it works like that in Firefly's case. And the source of that money is still questionable anyway... This is the shade that will follow Firefly (and Skyrora) everywhere, unfortunately.
Agreed. If it were any one thing, I think it could blow over. But with the Virgin Galactic/Orbit IP theft lawsuit, the defrauding of the original investors and subsequent shady takeover by Polyakov, and all the things you've mentioned? It shifts it from being an odd detail to a worrying pattern of behavior.
this might have an impact on the company: https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1227594804416086016
... The orbit for the first launch of Alpha is expected to be at a 146-degree inclination and an altitude of 300km.The Firefly Alpha will acquire and transmit data vehicle telemetry. Camera views will also be capturedand transmitted. The primary objective for this first flight is to acquire data on the performance of thevehicle, but several payloads will also be flown. The payloads for the first launch of the Alpha vehicleare summarized in the table below....
Published on 14 Feb 2020A launch vehicle’s Flight Termination System (FTS) will destroy it if it deviates from the expected flight path. Although we hope that Alpha’s FTS never has to be activated, as a safety system it needs to be one of the most reliable components on the vehicle. Recently at our Briggs site we have been conducting tests to prove our FTS functionality using flight-configuration ordnance and an Alpha COPV at flight pressure and temperature. One such test was conducted inside a “sea van” shipping container. There was quite the battle over who got to push the button! #MakingSpaceForEveryone
