The quest for space travel inspires STEM interest like no other endeavor. Firefly has promoted that interest by opening its doors to youth though Firefly Academy, the Base11 Challenge, and the Firefly International Rocket Event (FIRE). Firefly is taking their STEM commitment literally to the next level, by announcing a global competition to host academic and educational payloads, free of charge, on the inaugural flight of the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle.
Alpha Stage 1 Flight Acceptance testing has begun.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/rocket-report-dod-rescinds-rocket-awards-europeans-talk-up-ariane-7/QuoteFirefly now targeting mid-October for Alpha launch. In a recent interview, Firefly's founder, Tom Markusic, said the company has lost a month of schedule due to a test-stand fire in January and perhaps one to two months due to COVID-19. "The plan is now mid-October this year, which does represent a couple of months slip from earlier," he told Connectivity Business about the Alpha rocket's first launch. "Overall, I think we've been very fortunate in both incidents that we weren't set back for a longer duration."
Firefly now targeting mid-October for Alpha launch. In a recent interview, Firefly's founder, Tom Markusic, said the company has lost a month of schedule due to a test-stand fire in January and perhaps one to two months due to COVID-19. "The plan is now mid-October this year, which does represent a couple of months slip from earlier," he told Connectivity Business about the Alpha rocket's first launch. "Overall, I think we've been very fortunate in both incidents that we weren't set back for a longer duration."
Flight 1 payload section (foreground) and stage 1 (background) both undergoing flight acceptance testing.
A beautiful morning in Briggs, Texas! #GoAlpha #ReaverPower
https://twitter.com/firefly_space/status/1296086487159775235Quote Flight 1 payload section (foreground) and stage 1 (background) both undergoing flight acceptance testing.
Based on comparison imagery from 8-22 and 9-1 on Sentinel Infrared imagery, looks like they fired the stage.
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 09/05/2020 10:51 pmBased on comparison imagery from 8-22 and 9-1 on Sentinel Infrared imagery, looks like they fired the stage.Other than cloud cover, I'm not seeing the change. Can you point it out?
Its the discoloration here, that is North-ish of the test stand
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 09/06/2020 01:04 pmIts the discoloration here, that is North-ish of the test standIsn’t that a shadow from the cloud to the left, like the shadow in the bottom right of the image?Also there’s a darker colour on nearly all sides of the test side (albeit more to the North)
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 09/06/2020 07:20 amQuote from: Ronsmytheiii on 09/05/2020 10:51 pmBased on comparison imagery from 8-22 and 9-1 on Sentinel Infrared imagery, looks like they fired the stage.Other than cloud cover, I'm not seeing the change. Can you point it out?Its the discoloration here, that is North-ish of the test stand
Applicant: Firefly AerospaceDates: 11/21/2020-12/21/2020Purpose: The main purpose of the launch vehicle is to provide commercial space launch services(...)
Please explain the purpose of operation: The main purpose of the launch vehicle is to provide commercial space launch services. Once the launch vehicle reaches the mission altitude of 300km, it will deploy commercial payloads into orbit. The second stage will complete one full orbit while it downlinks data to VAFB and KSAT ground station locations in Hawaii, Mauritius, and South Africa.
This STA is for a space launch vehicle. It has a shore mission duration of less than 2 hours.
QuoteThis STA is for a space launch vehicle. It has a shore mission duration of less than 2 hours. Hmm.... Did they mean shore? Now that I'm about to hit post, I'm questioning my mockery into a serious question..
