You'd expect welds for a show piece to be at least electrochem cleaned or something. Anyways. The pictures posted by fthomassy are really telling of their engine propellant flow. Looks like from top to bottom, LOX inlet, LOX outlet, purge seal + bearing housing, RP outlet, RP inlet manifold, purge seal(?) + bearing, turbine inlet manifold (from the thrust chamber, which isn't connected), turbine outlet manifold to be routed to divergent section of the nozzle.Despite it being a show piece, are the pictures posted here appropriate in terms of IP?
That nozzle extension looks to have a metallic liner with some non-metallic outside surface. Could you tell in person?
Their website says: The upper stage engine, “Lightning,” includes a turbine-exhaust cooled refractory metal high area ratio nozzle extension.I expected the nozzle extension to be a niobium alloy like the Falcon 9.
On Thursday, March 15, 2018 we performed a long duration hotfire test of the “Lightning” thrust chamber assembly. The test duration was 296 seconds, which is twice as long as any engine test previously run at Firefly. Analysis of data and post-test inspection of hardware revealed no anomalies. A crowd of three hundred Firefly friends and family were on hand to witness this milestone.Dr. Tom’s Firefly Blog Reignition - March 14th, 2018We will begin using this blog to regularly report corporate and technical progress at Firefly. Here is a quick catch-up of where we stand today:-We are focused on development of the Alpha Vehicle, which is designed to deliver one metric ton to LEO. We are engaged in developmental design, production and testing of Alpha components.-We will soon be integrating these components into full stages and performing integrated stage tests on our new vertical test stand (Test Stand 2 (TS-2)).-We intend to perform our first orbital flight during the third quarter of 2019.
First new blog is from Markusic Quote-We intend to perform our first orbital flight during the third quarter of 2019.
-We intend to perform our first orbital flight during the third quarter of 2019.
Alpha Payload User's GuideMarch 19th, 2018Today we have released the Alpha Payload User’s Guide, available on our downloads page. This document provides customers with details on vehicle performance and interface information.
Latest blog.QuoteAlpha Payload User's GuideMarch 19th, 2018Today we have released the Alpha Payload User’s Guide, available on our downloads page. This document provides customers with details on vehicle performance and interface information.User guide attached. Enjoy!
Quote from: fthomassy on 03/20/2018 12:42 pmUser guide attached. Enjoy! Interesting! Has it been confirmed yet where they will be launching from??
User guide attached. Enjoy!
Firefly is currently in the process of securing a site at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), as this locationis expected to support the initial test flights of Alpha and a substantial number of future Customers;This process is currently underway with documentation submitted to Air Force Space Command andVAFB 30th Space Wing. Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) is the launch site considered to be Firefly’sPrimary domestic site.
Staring at Firefly Aerospace’s hot rocket-engine flames in a Texas pasture“Hopefully you’ll be able to look back and say, ‘Hey, I knew those guys when they were nobody.’”by Nathan Mattise - Mar 17, 2018 5:30pm GMTCEDAR PARK, Texas—"Last time you came out here, it was just a pile of dirt," Firefly Aerospace CEO and rocket scientist Tom Markusic tells me. I looked it up afterwards—he's not lying.
... The second picture above shows Firefly composite production technicians fabricating the domes of the tanks that will be used on our first fully integrated stage tests in June 2018.
Quote from: fthomassy on 03/20/2018 12:42 pmLatest blog.QuoteAlpha Payload User's GuideMarch 19th, 2018Today we have released the Alpha Payload User’s Guide, available on our downloads page. This document provides customers with details on vehicle performance and interface information.User guide attached. Enjoy! Note. On launch Alpha's tank width will make it the SoA with regard to flight weight main CFRP tanks, beyond Rocket Labs tanks.
Quote from: john smith 19 on 04/02/2018 07:47 amQuote from: fthomassy on 03/20/2018 12:42 pmLatest blog.QuoteAlpha Payload User's GuideMarch 19th, 2018Today we have released the Alpha Payload User’s Guide, available on our downloads page. This document provides customers with details on vehicle performance and interface information.User guide attached. Enjoy! Note. On launch Alpha's tank width will make it the SoA with regard to flight weight main CFRP tanks, beyond Rocket Labs tanks.Only on launch. The 5.5m carbon fiber SLS tank demo (by NASA, Boeing, and Janicki) put a far larger tank through a full range of cryogenic and load testing. As far as full test suites go, that SLS tank demo still wins.And in some ways (i.e. fundamental understanding), those ground tests are superior as they provide better data than flight does. Fundamentally, you can test just about everything about flight on the ground with these tanks.
SLS doesn’t use carbon tanks AFAIK. Are you thinking about XS-1?
And in some ways (i.e. fundamental understanding), those ground tests are superior as they provide better data than flight does. Fundamentally, you can test just about everything about flight on the ground with these tanks.
Quote from: imprezive on 04/02/2018 01:48 pmSLS doesn’t use carbon tanks AFAIK. Are you thinking about XS-1?NASA did a subscale 5.5m tank for composites procesing demonstrations a few years ago. More information here on the 5.5m version and also some pictures and information here on the earlier 2.4m demo unit. 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.
>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.
