It's worth pointing out that NASA took a pretty big risk with the COTS contracts by awarding SpaceX and RocketPlane Kistler. Kistler failed, actually, and that's how we got Orbital/Cygnus. But without COTS, we almost certainly wouldn't have SpaceX today. Commercial contracting methods aren't just trying to save money on a contract but also trying to expand the marketplace of providers beyond just the usual players.
Today we performed a test of the Alpha flight first stage. The four Reaver engines performed 35 seconds of thrust vector control maneuvers, challenging the flame deflectors to constrain all that Reaver power! Today's test was a major step in Firefly's march to first flight.
Operational 1st stage is good start.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 amOperational 1st stage is good start.A static fire is a good start, but it is insufficient to prove an operational first stage.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/20/2020 07:05 amQuote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 amOperational 1st stage is good start.A static fire is a good start, but it is insufficient to prove an operational first stage.I assumed this was stage test that F9 and Electron do before shipping to launching pad.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 pmQuote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/20/2020 07:05 amQuote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 amOperational 1st stage is good start.A static fire is a good start, but it is insufficient to prove an operational first stage.I assumed this was stage test that F9 and Electron do before shipping to launching pad.Yeah, and I'm sure that before the first Falcon 1 launch they did the same thing. Yet the first stage failed in its actual flight test.The word "operational" means that all testing is complete and has proven that something is ready for regular usage in normal operations. A static fire is insufficient to declare something that has never flown operational.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/20/2020 07:10 pmQuote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 pmQuote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/20/2020 07:05 amQuote from: TrevorMonty on 09/20/2020 06:53 amOperational 1st stage is good start.A static fire is a good start, but it is insufficient to prove an operational first stage.I assumed this was stage test that F9 and Electron do before shipping to launching pad.Yeah, and I'm sure that before the first Falcon 1 launch they did the same thing. Yet the first stage failed in its actual flight test.The word "operational" means that all testing is complete and has proven that something is ready for regular usage in normal operations. A static fire is insufficient to declare something that has never flown operational.Ok, Flight ready then.
New in depth article by Ashlee Vance. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-09-22/firefly-aerospace-and-max-polyakov-want-to-build-smaller-rockets-than-spacex?sref=gwQfC0Ev
Some additional footage of last weekend's Alpha Flight 1 Stage 1 acceptance testing. Check out the engines gimballing for the thrust vector control maneuvers. Volume up! #Firefly #MakingSpaceForEveryone
The final structural component of the Alpha first flight vehicle has completed acceptance testing! The Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) is a conical composite structure which supports the payload stack on top of the rocket. This structure was tested yesterday by applying
flight-like loads (plus a 25% safety factor) utilizing the TS-4 structural test stand at the Firefly Briggs Site. #Firefly #MakingSpaceForEveryone
Firefly Aerospace today conducted the final shake down test firing of its Alpha rocket first stage, which will now ship to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California – for another static fire and then first launch:
The Firefly Alpha Flight 1 Stage 1 passed its Final Acceptance Test yesterday! After a final inspection, it will be transported to Vandenberg Air Force Base in preparation for launch. Great work by the over 300+ Firefly team to achieve this important milestone! #Firefly #MakingSpaceForEveryone
Alpha uses LOX/RP-1, but I'm not seeing any frost on the rocket, unlike Electron.
