Author Topic: Firefly Alpha FLTA005 : ELaNa 43 : VSFB SLC-2W : 04 July 2024 (04:03 UTC) (Read 36803 times)

Conexion Espacial · « **on:** 01/26/2023 07:13 pm »

Discussion thread for Firefly Aerospace's fifth ~~fourth~~ mission with its Alpha rocket "FLTA005" ~~"FLTA004"~~.

Mission: VCLS Demo-2FB (ELaNa 43)

FCC License:
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=119835&RequestTimeout=1000

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #1 on:** 02/16/2023 05:44 pm »

Any new news?

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #2 on:** 02/16/2023 07:13 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/16/2023 05:44 pm

Any new news?

Last I heard, the launch is scheduled for April, still awaiting completion of acceptance testing to send the vehicle to Vandenberg.

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #3 on:** 02/25/2023 06:19 pm »

Livestream for Alpha first stage static fire test

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #4 on:** 02/25/2023 07:01 pm »

Fire!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #5 on:** 02/26/2023 07:54 am »

https://twitter.com/adamcuker/status/1629677820782731269

Quote

FireFly performed a static test fire of their Alpha booster this afternoon.

@NASASpaceflight

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #6 on:** 02/27/2023 02:33 pm »

https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1630221466297053186

Quote

Firefly tested its Alpha first stage booster for their upcoming FLTA003 mission. The burn lasted 42 seconds and was successful.

Video from Adam Cuker (@AdamCuker).

📺

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #7 on:** 02/27/2023 05:47 pm »

https://twitter.com/firefly_space/status/1630278166865387522

Quote

Our team completed engine and stage testing on another Alpha rocket, and we are GO for launch integration. Firefly’s in-house, “test what we fly” approach further ensures mission success.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/21/2023 01:54 am »

Flight 4 and 3 swapped; announced March 20.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #9 on:** 05/06/2023 03:22 pm »

Per https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/06/firefly-launching-space-force-high-speed-victus-nox-mission.html this launch is scheduled 2 months after the VICTUS NOX launch, i.e. NET July 2023.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #10 on:** 05/25/2023 03:12 pm »

Given:

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 05/06/2023 03:22 pm

Per https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/06/firefly-launching-space-force-high-speed-victus-nox-mission.html this launch is scheduled 2 months after the VICTUS NOX launch, i.e. NET July 2023.

And now:

Quote from: Salo on 05/25/2023 06:52 am

NextSpaceflight, updated May 24:
Quote
VICTUS NOX (TacRS-3)
Launch Time
NET June 2023

Therefore, launch is now NET August.
NextSpaceflight, updated May 24:
VCLS Demo-2FB (ELaNa 43) launch NET August 2023

gongora · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/31/2023 03:39 pm »

1109-EX-ST-2023

Quote

This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Firefly’s VCLS-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base SLC-2. This includes a suborbital first stage and an orbital second stage. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. This STA replaces 1914-EX-ST-2022, an extension of 0906-EX-ST-2022, which covers operations through 01JUL2023. This new STA accounts for delays in planned launch which was intended to occur prior to July 2023, which now is planned for August 2023.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #12 on:** 06/14/2023 03:34 pm »

https://twitter.com/firefly_space/status/1669004868336467969

Quote

Plug in your headphones because all four of our Reaver engines have been acceptance tested for Alpha FLTA004 with @NASA Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to launch. https://fireflyspace.com/missions/nasa-elana-43/

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #13 on:** 07/02/2023 01:37 pm »

Given:

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 05/06/2023 03:22 pm

Per https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/06/firefly-launching-space-force-high-speed-victus-nox-mission.html this launch is scheduled 2 months after the VICTUS NOX launch [May 2023], i.e. NET July 2023.

Cross-post:

Quote from: spacenuance on 06/29/2023 11:59 pm

Quote
The company is under contract to launch a Space Force mission called “Victus Nox” sometime this summer . . .
https://spacenews.com/firefly-to-launch-lockheed-martin-small-satellite-experiment/ [Jun 29]

= NET July

Therefore, launch is NET September.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #14 on:** 07/20/2023 02:41 pm »

Cross-posts:

Quote from: Salo on 07/20/2023 02:17 pm

NextSpaceflight, updated July 20:
Quote
VCLS Demo-2FB (ELaNa 43)
Launch Time
NET November 2023

Quote from: Salo on 07/20/2023 02:43 pm

https://twitter.com/mirandahw_/status/1666424606943576065

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #15 on:** 09/15/2023 03:12 pm »

VICTUS NOX (flight 3) launched September 15 UTC; this is the next scheduled launch.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #16 on:** 09/28/2023 04:55 pm »

Any new news?

gongora · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/12/2023 06:19 pm »

Quote

This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Firefly’s VCLS-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base SLC-2. This includes a suborbital first stage and an orbital second stage. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. This STA replaces 1109-EX-ST-2023 which covers operations through 01JAN2024. This new STA accounts for delays in planned launch which was intended to occur prior to July 2023, which now is planned for March 2024.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/13/2023 01:16 am »

So, they've already finished orbital launches this year?

Cross-post:

Quote from: Salo on 10/13/2023 09:35 am

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2024
~~NET November 2023~~ March - VCLS (VADR) Demo-2FB/ELaNa 43: CatSat, KUbe-Sat-1, MESAT1, R5-S4, R5-S2-2.0, REAL, Serenity (3), SOC-i, TechEdSat-11 (TES-11) - Firefly Alpha (FLTA004) - Vandenberg SLC-2W (or NLT July)

NET March - OTB 2 (Orbital Test Bed-2) - Firefly Alpha - Vandenberg SLC-2W

NET March - EOS SAR 1 - Firefly Alpha - Vandenberg SLC-2W

~~NET October 2023~~ Q1 - Tantrum - Firefly Alpha - Vandenberg SLC-2W

Q1 - iSIM-SAT - Firefly Alpha - Vandenberg SLC-2W / Canaveral SLC-20

Q2 - TBD - Firefly Beta - Canaveral SLC-20

NET ~~January~~ Q2 - SUV demo mission, FANTM Ride - Firefly Alpha (FLTA005?) - Vandenberg SLC-2W

NET ~~December 2023~~ Q2 - Spaceflight Inc. multi satellite launch - Firefly Alpha - Vandenberg SLC-2W

Q4 - TBD - Firefly Beta - Vandenberg SLC-2E

TBD - Firefly Alpha - Lockheed Martin mission - Firefly Alpha - TBD
TBD - TBD - Firefly Alpha - Canaveral SLC-20
TBD - TBD - Firefly Alpha - Canaveral SLC-20

Changes on October 13th

Edit: (Probably) not. See new thread: Firefly Alpha : Flight 4 : Tantrum, et al : VSFB SLC-2W : NET Q4 2023

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #19 on:** 01/27/2024 04:13 am »

Bump/any new news?
I performed a brief internet search and found nothing new.